Israel, secular as it is, celebrates this week the last harvest festival of the annual cycle of special days called for by Moses in Leviticus 23. (Lev 23:34-44)
Intermingling secular, traditional, and spiritually observant customs, the modern celebration of Sukkot/Tabernacles combines elements of present practice and ancient significance. Among the more recognizable are (1) thanks to the God of the harvest; while (2) remembering how the Lord led, protected, and provided for his people in a barren, dangerous wilderness; (3) while anticipating with the prophet Zechariah that, in the end, all nations of the world will send representatives to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles to honor the God of gods (Zechariah 14:16-18).
One of the most recognizable customs of the 7 “days of joy” are the “booths” (sukkot) each family makes to remember how simply, and dependently, their ancestors lived during their 40 years of wandering.
It is probably not by accident that the practice of building these backyard, porch, or rooftop shelters hints of the kind of shanties used by homeless people– which is how Israel lived for 40 years.
For those who remember the counsel of Moses, these symbolic structures have a special meaning. On the threshold of the promised land, before moving into homes and gardens given to them by their God, Moses reminded his people not to forget what they had learned while living without homes, from God’s hand, a day at a time (Deut 8:1-20).
Doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch for all of us to remember where we have come from; and that up to this moment, the Lord, Himself, has provided the strength we use to either remember… or forget; to run to him, or to wander…
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