We often hear, “But how can I afford to go to the Feast this year?” Yahweh had already anticipated the question and gives this response.
Yahweh’s annual Feast days are one of the greatest blessings He bestows on His people. Unless you have kept them in the place where He puts His Name, you can’t imagine what a joy they truly are. A veritable Kingdom on earth!
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Yahweh’s purpose was established at creation when He made the lights in the heavens: “And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons [Hebrew, moed], and for days, and years” (Gen. 1: 14).
The Hebrew word moed means an “appointed time.” His Feasts are special times that Yahweh has set aside and that He will use to accomplish His will. The seven annual Feasts are these appointed times when He meets with His people. Until we recognize that His Feast days are appointments that we keep with Yahweh, we miss important truths revealed to His people.
The fact that these Feast days will be kept in the Kingdom (Ezek. 45:21- 25) shows that they are of special importance now. We cannot ignore them and still be His people.
Sign and Seal Ignored
The two most ignored commands in the Bible are the sign He has given us and the seal by which we are preserved. The sign is keeping His Sabbaths: “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a SIGN between me and them, that they might know that I [am] Yahweh that sanctify them.” (Ezek. 20: 12) “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between. me and you, that you may know that I [am] Yahweh your Elohim” (Ezek. 20:20).
By keeping His Sabbaths, Yahweh will sanctify us so that we are set apart as a sanctified people for a holy purpose. The Sabbaths are a special time in which we learn to know Him and we draw closer to Him. The world in general is irresponsible and ignores these days, believing that they are free from all obligations and responsibilities.
The seal is His Name: We are sealed with His Name upon baptism (Rev. 14:1) and already carry His Name for we are known as “His wife” (Rev. 19:7), and have prepared or made ourselves ready. The sealing agent is the Holy Spirit: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of Yahweh, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
Financing the Feasts
The seven annual Feasts are not optional for the people of Yahweh, but convocations in which all Bible believers are commanded to gather. They are a part of that sign showing that we are truly His people when we keep His commanded days. His Feast days also set us apart, sanctifying us, as they did Israel
In His command Yahweh was very detailed, making provisions for the financing of our trips to His gatherings without having them become a great burden. After all, His Feasts should be a delight, the highlights of the year.
Just as we are expected to tithe to Yahweh so that His plan of salvation can be proclaimed around the world (Mat. 23:23), He also shows us that we are to set aside funds to keep the Feasts. Notice: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before Yahweh thy Elohim, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear Yahweh thy Elohim always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose to set his name there, when Yahweh thy Elohim hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before Yahweh thy Elohim, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee” (Deut. 14:22-27).
This is a special tithe to use for the Feasts. It is to be kept and managed by the individual to assure that one has funds to attend the Feasts. It is separate from the tithe to proclaim the evangel to the world, which is holy unto Yahweh and to be used for that purpose.
Instead of setting aside cash as the world does in a “vacation fund” or some “Xmas savings plan,” Yahweh long ago gave us this guide as assurance that we could always attend His Festivals. Savings accounts and payroll savings plans are actually patterned after Yahweh’s ancient method of assuring that His people can attend His Feasts. The majority of Yahweh’s people plan their vacations and time off work in accordance with the Feast days.
What better way to spend a vacation than to gather with others of like faith and clearly identify with the “sign” Yahweh gives us that we might learn of Him by keeping His Sabbaths. Spiritual enrichment for the entire family is a part of His plan that we get to know and share our joy and experiences with the future kings and priests of His coming Kingdom!
Making Feast attendance a part of our lives is a maturing experience as we discipline ourselves to obey our Father and gather where He has placed His Name.
See YOU at Tabernacles!
The three “Pilgrim Feasts” are: the seven days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the eight days at Tabernacles. Preparations such as airplane reservations, transportation, accommodations, and auto repairs should be taken care of early. Israel was commanded to eat of the tithe of their produce at the Feast. For those traveling a distance, Yahweh says,
“… bind up the money in your hand, and go unto the place which Yahweh your Elohim shall choose,” which He does through His ministers (Deut. 14:25).
Consider the words of Moses to Israel just before they were to cross over into the Promised Land, just as the saints will some day come into the Kingdom: “Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your Elohim in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty” (Deut. 16:16).
Yahweh promises a blessing for those who obey Him. Who wouldn’t want to be blessed? Isn’t it time you came out of the world of sin and erroneous teachings in these last days and prepared for your eternal life in Yahweh? We look forward to seeing YOU with us at the 2017 fall Feasts!
