https://odb.org/2024/07/02/a-national-campout
The Festival of Tabernacles is one of the celebrations instituted by God for the Israelites to remember the time their ancestors spent in the wilderness after God delivered them from Egypt back into the Promised Land. That journey was mostly spent in an oasis just south of Canaan called Kadesh Barnea. They lived in temporary shelters during those 40 years in the wilderness before Joshua led them across the Jordan River to conquer lands flowing with milk and honey despite the fortified cities, strong armies and the sons of Anak (descendants of giants).
We do not have the same ancestral heritage like the Israelites. But as modern-day day Malaysian Christians, we could perhaps remember the sacrifices made by our forefathers making their way to Malaya at the start of the last century and how God using evangelists like John Sung reached out to those early immigrants who then made it possible for many of us in subsequent and later years to hear and receive the Gospel and accept Christ into our lives. We must always be thankful to God for our lives today that we may serve Him in our local churches in air-conditioned buildings in fellowship with other like-minded believers to celebrate the goodness of God, Sunday after Sunday, when our ancestors toil day and night just to put food on the table. Yes, the world has moved on. As we look to the future, let’s not forget our own past.
Egypt represents the world, while the wilderness is a place of preparation before we enter into God’s promises, plans, and purposes for our lives, as represented by Canaan. Thus, we should also recall the time in the past when we were yet sinners and Jesus nevertheless reached out to us through the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts and lift the scales over our eyes to see the glory of God. We must appreciate and be thankful to God that He brought us out of the miry clay and placed us on the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 40:2). We are now on solid ground. We will not falter and will instead stand firm despite the fiery darts of the enemy. We are no longer selfish and self-serving but selfless and always willing to give and share out God’s blessings upon our lives.
We don’t have a Festival of Tabernacles here, but we could spend some time remembering our journey in Christ, from who we were in our previous life until who we are today in God. The LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is our God, and we are His people. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and the protector of our hearts. Let us remain true and faithful servants until our very last day here on earth as we look forward to an eternity to be spent with Him!
Ronnie's Thoughts 