Hidden treasures in unexpected places - part 4

Now we come to one of my favourite bits of Leviticus – the festivals! Each festival is a foreshadow of something yet to come. Check these out…             

Leviticus chapter 16 and 23

The day of Atonement (at-one-ment) - God and man as one. On the day of atonement you weren’t allowed to do any work. This shows us that being at one with God is not something we work for – Jesus has done the work for us. On this day a sin offering was given in the form of two goats. One goat is to act out the part of God and the other acts as the scapegoat. One goat dies as a sacrifice and the other goes free.

Leviticus 24

The year of Jubilee– an end to all debt and slavery and working the land. Even the land gets rest!  This shows us about God’s promised rest when Jesus returns and all that we have to look forward to. During the festival the priest (representing Jesus) goes into the Most Holy Place (representing heaven) and takes blood with him to cleanse even heaven itself. Heaven and earth are not separate dimensions – they are linked and part of the same creation.

Leviticus 23

Passover (now Good Friday) – a reminder of how we are redeemed through trusting in Jesus sacrifice. The unleavened bread was a sign of urgency in wanting to leave Egypt and escape judgement instead of wanting to remain in sin.

First fruits (now Easter) – to be celebrated in the Promised Land. It was a celebration of being brought into the promised land and also of the promised harvest to come. It was celebrated on the Sunday after Passover – that’s resurrection day! Harvest is all about a dead seed in the ground producing new life. Jesus died, was raised again and gives us new life if we put our trust in Him.

Festival of weeks – celebrated 50 days after Easter. Now we have Pentecost.

Festival of trumpets – see Exodus 19:13-20 God invites the people to meet with Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tells us a trumpet will announce Jesus return.

Festival of tabernacles – everyone went camping as a reminder of their journey through the wilderness and testimony to the fact that we’re still on a journey and not yet in our permanent home. This earth is just temporary and Jesus eternal Kingdom is still to come.