Feast of Tabernacles = also called the Feast of Ingathering Ex 23:16 when the harvest is completely gathered in and stored. It was a celebration of the provision of God in the harvest and a remembrance of the wilderness wanderings when God provided for their every need while they dwelt in tents. The people of God were required to camp out in tents for the entire 7 day length of the feast (Lev 23:40), but it only applied to God’s people. Foreigners were not to take part in the feast. The crude housing requirements eliminated many of the distinctions between the poor and rich.

Ex 23:16  “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.

Lev 23:42  Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths

This was the last of the feasts to be celebrated during the year. It was the 7th feast, occurred in the 7th month, and lasted 7 days. This speaks to us of completion and perfection. Six days we are to work and then rest on the seventh.

This was the third feast to be celebrated in the month of Ethanim. The first is the feast of Trumpets (the 1st day) which looks forward to the calling of the elect at the rapture. The second is the feast of Atonement (10th day) which looks to the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin. And this third feast (15th day) looks to the elect spending eternity in heaven. It will be a time of rest and joy as we dwell in the Presence of God.

This feast was also a current-day type which was meant to apply to us. We, like the Jews in the desert, are sojourners in this world (1 Pet 1:1). This is not our permanent residence, but we look forward to one in heaven, our Promised Land. In the meantime, Jesus is our resting place (Mt 11:28-30). As we are led through this wilderness by God (John 10:4, Rom 8:14), He will provide for all of our needs (Php 4:19), as He did for the Israelites in their desert times (Ex 16:11-15, 17:1-7, Deut 29:5).

1 Pet 1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

Mt 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Joh 10:4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Rom 8:14  because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Php 4:19  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Ex 16:11-15  The LORD said to Moses,  “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”  That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

Ex 17:1-7  The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarrelled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?”  But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”  Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”  The LORD answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.  And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the LORD saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Deut 29:5  During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.