Sukkot

Posted on 24 September 2023 by Elze Erwteman
On the fifteenth day of the seventh biblical month Tishri we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a feast of rejoicing and gratefulness to God. For seven days we live in a sukkah, a hut, which we build ourselves and decorate. The roof of the sukkah is not closed. We need to be able to see through it. We can look up and see the stars in the universe. We realise how vulnerable we are as human beings and how much we are dependent on God. We look up to Adonai our G-d and remember that He cares for us.
When Adonai led the Jewish people out of Egypt  they wandered through the desert for forty years. That’s a long time; it must have been hard for them. How will they survive? There are difficult circumstances, the desert is very hot during the day and cold at night. Is there enough food and water? Is there a place where they can be safe? There are dangerous animals.  And how far is it to the Promised Land?
One thing was sure: Adonai promised them the land, but the way to it was very tough. The Israelites learned great lessons during the 40 years in the dessert. They experienced that only the G-d of Israel was capable to take care of them. He provided food, water and their clothes and shoes did not wear out. They were learning to trust God.

Leviticus 23:42-43 says, “You are to live in Sukkot for seven days. Every citizen of Israel is to live in the sukkah so that generation after generation will know that I made the people of Israel live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Adonai your G-d.” This way the people of Israel learned to trust in Adonai, that He really takes care of them and provides for what they need.

For me also it is sometimes very difficult to trust in Adonai  completely, to be patient and to wait for Him. When I was a child at the age of 10 I was scared that something bad happened to me if I did not touch my pillow several times before I went to sleep. Every night it was the same ritual. Before I went to sleep I “had to” touch my pillow several times. Then one day I decided I did not want to go on with this anymore.

I had heard and read in the Bible that if you pray to Yeshua He will answer you and He will help you. So I prayed to Yeshua. The first evening after I prayed there was no difference and I went through the same ritual as always. The second evening I prayed again and after I finished my prayer I immediately fell asleep without doing my ritual. When I woke up the next morning I remembered that I had not touched my pillow before sleeping and nothing bad had happened.

Yeshua really answered my prayer and had helped me! I was not afraid anymore. Yeshua had taken away my fear; and from that moment on I never had to touch my pillow again before going to sleep. Baruch HaShem! I like to celebrate Sukkot because I trust in the God of Israel, He who leads His people out of Egypt and takes care of His children. He also leads us out of our problems and really takes care of us. Will you celebrate Sukkot this year?

Annet Wijnand