The Joy of Tabernacling with God: Lessons from Moses and Beyond
As the autumn winds begin to blow and the leaves turn golden, we enter a season rich with spiritual significance. The blast of the shofar echoed in our ears, calling us to reflection and renewal. The solemnity of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, invited us to examine our hearts. And then comes Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, a time of unbridled joy and thanksgiving.
Sukkot is aptly known as the "season of our joy." It's a festival that brims with gratitude, worship, and celebration. The temporary shelters of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after the Exodus recall God's faithfulness throughout history. We are reminded of His provision in times of uncertainty, and His desire to dwell among His people.
The feast of Sukkot points us to profound truths. It reminds us that Yeshua (Jesus) tabernacled among us, becoming flesh to dwell with humanity. During one Sukkot celebration, He stood up and declared, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, 'out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37-38). What a powerful image of spiritual refreshment and abundance arising from the traditional water raising ceremony of the 1st Century.
Sukkot also directs our gaze to the future, when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast, as prophesied in Zechariah. It foreshadows the glorious day described in Revelation 21, when God's dwelling will be permanently among His people.
In the midst of our joy, Sukkot teaches us a paradoxical truth: there is strength in acknowledging our weakness. The fragile sukkah represents the temporary nature of our earthly existence. Yet in this place of vulnerability, we find our greatest joy because we recognize our complete dependence on God's faithfulness and power.
This brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul: "I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). Our human frailty becomes the stage upon which God's strength is displayed.
As we reflect on God's instructions to His people, we might sometimes feel overwhelmed. The mitzvot (commandments) can seem daunting. Yet, we're reminded of the encouraging words in Deuteronomy 30:11-14: "For this mitzvah that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off... No, the word is very near to you—in your mouth and in your heart, to do it."
How much truer is this for believers today, indwelt by the Holy Spirit? God's presence is not distant or unreachable. He is near, closer than our very breath. Perhaps we sometimes take this incredible gift for granted, failing to recognize the ever-present help and guidance available to us.
As we turn our attention to Moses, that great leader of Israel, we see a life marked by intimacy with God. Deuteronomy records his final days, as he prepared to pass the mantle of leadership to Joshua. Despite his faithfulness, Moses would not enter the Promised Land. He could only view it from afar before his death.
Moses' life is a testament to God's sovereignty and grace. From his miraculous rescue as an infant to his upbringing in Pharaoh's court, from his exile to his calling at the burning bush, every step was divinely orchestrated. Moses was not perfect—he struggled with anger, doubt, and frustration. Yet God used him mightily, speaking with him "face to face, as a man speaks with his friend" (Exodus 33:11).
The Scripture tells us, "There has not risen again a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Adonai knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses' relationship with God was unique and intimate. He received the Torah directly from the Almighty, absorbing its teachings and faithfully transmitting them to the people.
However, even Moses' righteousness was not the basis for Israel's inheritance of the Promised Land. As we read in Deuteronomy 9:4-6, God makes it clear that it's not because of Israel's righteousness that they will possess the land, but because of the wickedness of the nations being driven out. This profound truth reminds us that our standing with God is always based on His grace and faithfulness, not our own merit.
This brings us to a challenging statement from Yeshua (Jesus): "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Torah scholars, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven!" (Matthew 5:20). What could this mean? The key lies in understanding that the Greek word often translated as "righteousness" here actually means "justification."
Yeshua isn't saying that the Pharisees and scribes weren't righteous in their conduct. Rather, He's calling His followers to a deeper understanding and application of Torah. It's not enough to meticulously follow the letter of the law; we must grasp its spirit and purpose. The goal of Torah is to know God, to understand ourselves, and to bring glory to the Almighty.
True righteousness, or justification, comes from a genuine relationship with God through His Word and obedience to His commands. It's not about rule-keeping for its own sake, but about allowing the intersection of God's kingdom and our lives to transform us into the people He created us to be.
Moses, in his intimate relationship with God, understood this better than anyone. Yet even Moses, great as he was, points us to One greater still. The book of Hebrews reminds us, "For He [Yeshua] has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, even as the builder of the house has more honor than the house" (Hebrews 3:3).
As we celebrated Sukkot, we were filled with joy in God's presence. May we find strength in acknowledging our dependence on Him. And may we, like Moses, seek an ever-deepening relationship with our Creator, allowing His Word to transform us from the inside out. In doing so, we'll discover that true righteousness—a right standing with God—comes not from our own efforts, but from His grace working in and through us.
Sukkot is aptly known as the "season of our joy." It's a festival that brims with gratitude, worship, and celebration. The temporary shelters of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after the Exodus recall God's faithfulness throughout history. We are reminded of His provision in times of uncertainty, and His desire to dwell among His people.
The feast of Sukkot points us to profound truths. It reminds us that Yeshua (Jesus) tabernacled among us, becoming flesh to dwell with humanity. During one Sukkot celebration, He stood up and declared, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, 'out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37-38). What a powerful image of spiritual refreshment and abundance arising from the traditional water raising ceremony of the 1st Century.
Sukkot also directs our gaze to the future, when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast, as prophesied in Zechariah. It foreshadows the glorious day described in Revelation 21, when God's dwelling will be permanently among His people.
In the midst of our joy, Sukkot teaches us a paradoxical truth: there is strength in acknowledging our weakness. The fragile sukkah represents the temporary nature of our earthly existence. Yet in this place of vulnerability, we find our greatest joy because we recognize our complete dependence on God's faithfulness and power.
This brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul: "I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). Our human frailty becomes the stage upon which God's strength is displayed.
As we reflect on God's instructions to His people, we might sometimes feel overwhelmed. The mitzvot (commandments) can seem daunting. Yet, we're reminded of the encouraging words in Deuteronomy 30:11-14: "For this mitzvah that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off... No, the word is very near to you—in your mouth and in your heart, to do it."
How much truer is this for believers today, indwelt by the Holy Spirit? God's presence is not distant or unreachable. He is near, closer than our very breath. Perhaps we sometimes take this incredible gift for granted, failing to recognize the ever-present help and guidance available to us.
As we turn our attention to Moses, that great leader of Israel, we see a life marked by intimacy with God. Deuteronomy records his final days, as he prepared to pass the mantle of leadership to Joshua. Despite his faithfulness, Moses would not enter the Promised Land. He could only view it from afar before his death.
Moses' life is a testament to God's sovereignty and grace. From his miraculous rescue as an infant to his upbringing in Pharaoh's court, from his exile to his calling at the burning bush, every step was divinely orchestrated. Moses was not perfect—he struggled with anger, doubt, and frustration. Yet God used him mightily, speaking with him "face to face, as a man speaks with his friend" (Exodus 33:11).
The Scripture tells us, "There has not risen again a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Adonai knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses' relationship with God was unique and intimate. He received the Torah directly from the Almighty, absorbing its teachings and faithfully transmitting them to the people.
However, even Moses' righteousness was not the basis for Israel's inheritance of the Promised Land. As we read in Deuteronomy 9:4-6, God makes it clear that it's not because of Israel's righteousness that they will possess the land, but because of the wickedness of the nations being driven out. This profound truth reminds us that our standing with God is always based on His grace and faithfulness, not our own merit.
This brings us to a challenging statement from Yeshua (Jesus): "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Torah scholars, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven!" (Matthew 5:20). What could this mean? The key lies in understanding that the Greek word often translated as "righteousness" here actually means "justification."
Yeshua isn't saying that the Pharisees and scribes weren't righteous in their conduct. Rather, He's calling His followers to a deeper understanding and application of Torah. It's not enough to meticulously follow the letter of the law; we must grasp its spirit and purpose. The goal of Torah is to know God, to understand ourselves, and to bring glory to the Almighty.
True righteousness, or justification, comes from a genuine relationship with God through His Word and obedience to His commands. It's not about rule-keeping for its own sake, but about allowing the intersection of God's kingdom and our lives to transform us into the people He created us to be.
Moses, in his intimate relationship with God, understood this better than anyone. Yet even Moses, great as he was, points us to One greater still. The book of Hebrews reminds us, "For He [Yeshua] has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, even as the builder of the house has more honor than the house" (Hebrews 3:3).
As we celebrated Sukkot, we were filled with joy in God's presence. May we find strength in acknowledging our dependence on Him. And may we, like Moses, seek an ever-deepening relationship with our Creator, allowing His Word to transform us from the inside out. In doing so, we'll discover that true righteousness—a right standing with God—comes not from our own efforts, but from His grace working in and through us.
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