July 1, 2024 8:00 pm
We camped under the stars, with nothing between us and the infinite West African sky. No need for a tent in the dry season. But the fire was crucial. “Never let the fire go out,” Dad said, prodding the logs with a stick. Fire kept wildlife at a distance. God’s creatures are wonderful, but you never want a leopard or a snake meandering through your campsite.
Dad was a missionary to Ghana’s Upper Region, and he had a knack for turning everything into a teaching moment. Camping was no exception.
God used campouts as a teaching point for His people too. Once a year, for an entire week, the Israelites were to live in shelters made of “branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees” (Leviticus 23:40). The purpose was twofold. God told them, “All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt” (vv. 42-43). But the event was also to be festive. “Rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days” (v. 40).
Camping may not be your idea of fun, but God instituted a one-week campout for the Israelites as a joyful way to recall His goodness. We easily forget the meaning at the heart of our holidays. Our festivals can be joyous reminders of the character of our loving God. He created fun too.
COVERED TOPICS / TAGS (Click to Search)
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Wisdom for the Heart
Dr. Stephen Davey
What's Right What's Left
Pastor Ernie Sanders
What's Right What's Left
Pastor Ernie Sanders
Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Tim Gustafson wrote today's reading, and it's titled A National Campout. We camped under the stars, with nothing between us and the infinite West African sky. No need for a tent in the dry season, but the fire was crucial.
Never let the fire go out, Dad said, prodding the logs with a stick. Fire kept wildlife at a distance. God's creatures are wonderful, but you never want a leopard or a snake meandering through your campsite.
Dad was a missionary to Ghana's upper region, and he had a knack for turning everything into a teaching moment. Camping was no exception. God used campouts as a teaching point to His people, too. Once a year, for an entire week, the Israelites were to live in shelters made of branches from luxuriant trees, from palms, willows, and other leafy trees.
The purpose was twofold. In Leviticus chapter 23, God told them, All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. But the event was also to be festive. Rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days, says verse 40. Camping may not be your idea of fun, but God instituted a one-week campout for the Israelites as a joyful way to recall His goodness. We easily forget the meaning at the heart of our holidays. Our festivals can be joyous reminders of the character of our loving God.
He created fun, too. The scripture reading for today's Our Daily Bread devotional is from Leviticus chapter 23 verses 33 through 43. The Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's festival of tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly. Do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly.
Do no regular work. These are the Lord's appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord, the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord. So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days.
The first day is a day of Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of Sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees, from palms, willows and other leafy trees, and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. Celebrate it in the seventh month.
Live in temporary shelters for seven days. All native born Israelites are to live in such shelters, so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, thank you for the way you placed joy-filled reminders of your faithfulness into the lives and practices of your people. As we participate in our own traditions, help us also to remember and celebrate your faithfulness in our own lives. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I'm Stephen Tabor and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-07-01 20:11:26 / 2024-07-01 20:13:18 / 2