8.19.24
So many pictures of who our God is and how he relates to us are given in kid-friendly forms that every member of the family can relate to.
The salvation story is pictured in a meal that recalled the story of God’s rescue from slavery (sin) in the Passover. It was a way of seeing the theology of God’s loving rescue in the vivid imagery of food - its smells and tastes - and all the stories they represent.
The feast of booths or tabernacles depicted God’s loving faithfulness in a mini family camping trip. The people would set up mini-booths or campsites to remember God’s faithfulness in the wilderness. It was a time of joyous celebration as the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness.
The feast of weeks was a reminder of the faithful provisions of God - not only for food and the harvest, but ultimately for the final provision of the coming Messiah. The Feast of Weeks takes place exactly 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits, thus it was also known as a feast of Pentecost (meaning 50 days). Jesus was crucified as the “Passover Lamb” and rose from the grave at the Feast of Firstfruits. Following His resurrection, Jesus spent the next 40 days teaching His disciples before ascending to heaven. Fifty days after His resurrection and after ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as promised to indwell the disciples and empower them for ministry. The promised Holy Spirit arrived on the Day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks).
And there are even more feasts and symbolic imageries that are designed to picture the work of God in salvation. But the point is, they were all depicted in stories and meals and symbols that children could enter into and participate in. It was God’s way of helping his people do what he had commanded:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)