The Root Cellar—

Digging Through the ROOTS of Our Faith

by Rabbi Norm Ostroff

God's original plan was always to reveal Messiah to His people. Messiah Yeshua has clearly been revealed in the Spring Levitican Feasts, through His coming to earth, in human form, to be our "suffering" Messiah (our Passover Lamb), and offering us God's "gift" of salvation through His resurrection on the Feast of First Fruits (Bikkurim). (This was Yeshua's first coming.) "His arm worked salvation" (Isa 59:16, 63:5). And, His Name means "salvation" - actually, "the Lord saves" (Matt 1:21). That was Spring. Soon it will be Fall, and the Fall Levitican Feasts (also referred to as the High Holy Days) are approaching. The Fall Feasts are the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), also called Rosh HaShanah (the Head of the Year), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). While none of these three feasts have a "fulfilled" messianic significance, it is only reasonable to believe that key messianic events associated with Yeshua's second coming will be fulfilled in these feasts. Joel 2:23 talks about the autumn and spring rains, with his prophecy interpreted to be related to both the first and second comings of Messiah. Therefore, we talk about the expected messianic significance of the Fall Levitican Feasts. Many believers expect that God will blow the Shofar on the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah - Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1-6) - when Yeshua comes to take us home - the occasion which is also known as "the Rapture" (Matt 24:30-31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16). So it follows, on this occasion, when the Shofar is blown in both messianic and non-messianic synagogues everywhere, that the Shofar be blown in celebration of God, and in expectation of when God Himself will next blow the Shofar. A literal translation of the Hebrew text of Number 29:1b is that Yom Teruah is to be "the day of the awakening blast (of the Shofar)." Regarding the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur - Lev 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11), non-believing Jews come to God yearly on this day to repent of their sins (of the previous year) to plead for (and expect to get) a fresh forgiveness to begin the coming year. Believers can celebrate that this is no longer an annual requirement because God, the Father, sent His Son, Yeshua, to be a once-and-for-all-time atonement for all people if they believe. He paid the price for good. We are redeemed and our salvation is assured - period! God has forgiven us of our sins and remembers them no more! As John the Baptizer said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) Believers need to be a light to our non-messianic Jewish brethren, and pray for them to come to know of their Messiah and the salvation He brings. (That, actually, is God's command/calling to the Gentiles in Romans 11:30-31.) Through Yeshua, true repentance before God is automatically accepted and will be accepted anytime - not just one special day a year - and we never have to look back! The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is all about God dwelling with us. In Lev 23:33-43, God told the Jewish people to build Sukkot (plural for Sukkah) (tents/tabernacles) and live in them for seven days, to remember the Exodus when God dwelt among His people on the desert and provided for them. Exodus 29:44-46 says, "So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God." [God brought His people out of their slavery (to bondage in Egypt, in the Old Testament; to sin in the world, in the New Testament), just so He could dwell with them! Even now, does He not dwell in the hearts of all believers?!] Sukkot also celebrates the harvests of God's provision. In the Old Testament, it is a celebration of the successful harvest of God's bounty. It is the last harvest of the agricultural year, when the fruit is brought in. As believers, we see the "harvest" as a harvest of the non-believers. Luke 10:2 says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." We all have the responsibility (and God's command!) to harvest lost souls for the Lord, so that He may "tabernacle" with the most people possible. 2 Peter 3:9 makes God's position very clear - "…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" and a saving knowledge of their Messiah, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. For in the end, "…the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God." (Rev 21:3) And, we all look forward to that!!! This year, the Fall Levitican Feasts begin at sundown on Monday, 29 September (Yom Teruah). All synagogues (messianic and non-messianic) will hold services and blow the Shofar. It is a wonderful experience. Please try to make it. Malachut Ha Mashiach is just over in Lusby. And, all are cordially invited to attend any or all of our High Holy Days services. The schedule of services was inserted in a recent Sunday bulletin and extras are on the Welcome Table. God Bless You All.