SUKKOT – A TIME TO BEHOLD by Raphael ben Levi
Yeshua frequently employed the idiom, “If anyone has ears, let him hear,” (i.e., meaning “if you are willing to receive it” Matt.11:14) inviting us to experience transformation by allowing His words to bear fruit in our lives. It’s a choice only we can make.
Many people who heard Yeshua’s teachings remained as spectators. They returned home to their daily routine with unresponsive hearts. Yeshua lamented their apathy quoting from Isai.6:10: “For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears and understand with their heart and turn—and I would heal them.”
God is the biggest secret in the world. He is so obvious yet so hidden. He has clearly revealed Himself through Yeshua but so many people apply the criterion of convenience to determine what they receive or reject. For the Jewish people things have been slightly different as history has demonstrated. But the bottom line is that God has given them iron clad promises. One day soon the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the deaf will hear, ushering in one of the greatest, earth-shattering events in history: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (Zech.12:10) Mourning will be turned into dancing and sackcloth replaced with ‘garments’ of joy! (Ps.30:11) As Job declared: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You!” (42:5) In the Millennium all nations will make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem annually at the Feast of Sukkot, paying homage to the King of Kings who shall rule and reign from Jerusalem. These are amazing things that have yet to reach prophetic fulfilment!
So, as we celebrate Sukkot with much rejoicing and gladness and see God’s eternal purposes unravelling before our very eyes, let’s engage as never before as His ‘labourers in the vineyard’ for His praise and glory!
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