The Feast of Tabernacles is upon us, and we say thank you Father!

Over the past few weeks I have spoken with many of you and we have discussed how you will be observing Sukkot. Amazingly, everyone is doing things differently, yet together. Some set up booths in their yard while others go to local parks or campgrounds. Many will dwell in tents, cabins, and RV’s and some hearty souls will sleep their homemade sukkahs. Still others will partake of the feast by dancing in the streets of Jerusalem and sleep in the King David Hotel.

The focus of each gathering is also unique. There will be an emphasis on teaching at one venue while others choose to dance the week away. Some will rest in a hammock and others will be serving in the dining hall. Through it all I know everyone will grow. It is all good.

We even have variety in the dates of observance. Of course we have many who will be observing the feast based on the Hillel calendar, while several use the local new moon sighting. Thanks to the internet many will wait to hear of a sighting of the moon from Israel. Of course there are those who have no clue about any of that and simply celebrate when their friends do. They have been called and now are choosing to answer.

There have been other times like this throughout history. Ezra and Nehemiah were truth seekers and passionate about restoring Israel’s lost heritage. When they read the Torah for the first time in years they wept. Their hearts were drawn to the truth and the truth set them free. They kept the feast. They kept it with joy and with a healthy reverence of the Elohim of Israel. 

“And they found written in the law which YHWH had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month…  And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so… Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.

And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly,
according unto the manner.” Nehemiah 8:14-18 

Their parents had forsaken their heritage. They had turned their backs on the Torah and the One who gave it. Yet, YHWH did not forsake them. He was faithful to maintain the seed of Abraham.  He still is.

We are like these people in many ways. We love His law and call it a delight to sit in the sukkah. However, I pray that we learn from their mistakes. For it was not too many generations from Nehemiah before Israel forgot about His Torah once again. I believe part of the problem was that the people were so caught up in their personal restoration they forgot about the next generation. They forgot to teach it to their children and grandchildren as the Torah instructs.

We must grow in wisdom realizing that our children are the ones who will take this message forward. They will truly impact the world tomorrow if we train them properly today. The feasts will not be new or strange to our children but rather a way of life. Our prayer is that one day our sukkah will be overflowing with great grandchildren who love to keep the feasts.

So, wherever, however, and whenever you are keeping Sukkot this year please focus on the next generation. Let us not get so caught up in our quest for knowledge and truth that we forget to make a memorable feast for our children and grandchildren while we adults sit around debating. We do not want to end up like Joshua the son of Nun. We do not want our love for Torah to end with our generation. We must think and act generational.

My friends let us gather this year in the spirit of Ezra and Nehemiah but let us do it better. Get the children involved allowing them to be a significant part of your celebration. Not just as cute little children in some type of presentation but in a real contributing manner to your gathering. Allow them to truly experience the feast, not as an afterthought or a sideshow, but as your primary focus. Let the seed of Abraham spring forth and call these days a delight. May traditions be built that will last a lifetime as families are united as never before. Lay down your expectation and desire and ask the next generation about their’s. Throw a ball, ride a bike, teach them His Word through modeling it for them each day. Dance, sing, and leap for joy because our Father has been faithful once again. Let’s get it right this time. Let this year be the beginning that will never end.

Blessings upon your celebration,
Scott Diffenderfer