• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope." Psalm 119:49

Text: Exodus 23 : 14-15

RELIGIOUS FEASTS

There were other practical ways in which the Lord helped Israel to keep their faith alive and vibrant. One of those ways was the keeping of religious feast-days!

THREE SPECIAL FEASTS

God gave Israel a very rich religious calendar. If Israel fully understood and kept these commandments as God designed it, the nation would enjoy their religion immensely! Three special feasts were highlighted that were to be regarded with special significance by Israel.

“Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(you shall eat Unleavened Bread seven days, as I commanded you,
at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out
of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty).”
EXODUS 23:14-15

1. Special effort to be made to appear before the Lord

These three feasts required all males to appear before the Lord (Exodus 23:17).

2. The Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread

The Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread were closely associated.

a) The Passover was kept just before the commencement of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

b) The Passover was kept over one day.

c) The Feast of the Unleavened Bread was kept over seven days!

3. Special features to be carefully borne in mind

a) Israel was to remember how the Lord delivered them from bondage in Egypt.

b) Unleavened Bread represented “holiness.” Israel must remind itself that it must seek to walk in holiness always.

c) “None shall appear before Me empty”

i) No one was to appear before the Lord “empty-handed”.

ii) Every effort must be made to have a lamb sacrificed.

iii) Every effort must be made to have Unleavened Bread to eat for a week.

iv) The poor must be given every assistance so that they too can celebrate
this feast of the Unleavened Bread meaningfully