Does God have a plan? Or does He just fly by the seat of His pants? If He does have a plan, what is it? How are we to know it? Why should we know it? Do we have a part in that plan? If so, what role do we play? Could such a plan teach us something about what God is like? Would that plan offer us insight into why the world is the way it is – and where it’s going?
Many may be surprised to learn that God, indeed, does have a plan – a very grand plan. Most of humanity is totally unaware of God’s plan. It is one of His great mysteries:
God has “made known to us the mystery of his will [plan] according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times [dates] reach their fulfillment [appointments]—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)
And that He offers to share it with us and even play a pivotal role in its implementation. Jesus said to His disciples:
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 (NIV)
How Does God Reveal His Plan?
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 (AKJV)
So we see that the annual Festivals were given to humanity as a “shadow” to reveal God’s plan which would be performed by Jesus Christ. For Israel, they were, and many still are, focused only on God’s Feasts as a celebration of their liberation from Egypt. For Christians, we have the added benefit of viewing the God’s Feasts in light of the work of Jesus Christ which frees us from spiritual Egypt and more.
Only For The Jews?
It is a common belief that the annual Feasts of God given in the wilderness were only for Old Testament Israel as part of the Old Covenant, but is this true?
Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Leviticus 23:2 [NIV]
These are the words from God where He introduces the His Feasts to Israel. Notice that these are not the Feasts of Israel, but the “appointed festivals of the Lord”.
To emphasize this point, only 2 verses later:
“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: Leviticus 23:4 [NIV]
Again, “These are the Lord’s appointed festivals”, not Israel’s.
What Was Jesus’ Example?
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” Matthew 26:17 [NIV]
We see that it was Jesus’ custom to observe the Biblical Feasts. See also John 5:1, John 7:37, John 12:12 and John 13:1.
But some may have the question, “Weren’t the Feasts and Holy Days nailed to the cross?”
What Were The Apostles’ Example?
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16 [NIV]
And a powerful demonstration of how God’s Holy Days are fulfilled:
When the day of Pentecost came, they [Christ’ disciples] were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-5 [NIV]
So, weeks after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and, later, His ascension into heaven, the disciples of Jesus were keeping Pentecost. Not only were they observing Pentecost, but a tremendous miracle was performed by God, demonstrating a fulfillment of one of the important meanings of Pentecost.
God’s Plan Moving Forward?
After Jesus returns to establish His kingdom across the entire earth (Zechariah 14:9):
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16-19 [NIV]
Here we see that God not only instructs the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles in the future millennium, but the results of not keeping it will come upon all peoples, including Egypt and other gentile nations.
What is The Most Powerful Evidence?
God’s Feasts are full of meaning for Christians. The tremendous value they can bring to Christian maturity can best be appreciated through the regular study and keeping of them. Yes, God directed us to observe them. And both Jesus and the Apostles set us the example of continuing to observe them. And as we have seen, they will continue to be observed after Jesus’ return and into the millennium. But, as the saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding”.
As we study, observe, and pray for understanding God’s Feasts and Holy Days, God’s plan of salvation will be unfolded before us. The love of God, His mercy and His way of life will gain greater and greater clarity. The reason God gave us His special days will become more and more evident. We will learn more of what He is doing and why. We will receive tremendous encouragement. Our role in His plan will become more clear. It is a fascinating journey.
The Feasts and Holy Days
The vastness of the symbolism of the Feasts and Holy Days is beyond the scope of this short introduction, but here are the seven Feasts of The Lord as laid out in Leviticus 23:
- The Passover
- Feast of Unleavened Bread
- Feast of Weeks/Pentecost
- Feast of Blowing [Trumpets]
- Day of Atonement
- Feast of Tabernacles
- The 8th Day
If this knowledge of God’s Feasts and Holy Days is new to you, may you be encouraged to learn more about them and their meaning, consider observing them every year and to keep your eyes peeled for what is revealed about them throughout The Bible.
