Remembering God’s Presence

Remembering Israel’s wilderness days reminds us of how God’s presence dwelled with them during their decades-long wandering. As they roamed the desert, they did so by the guidance of God’s presence represented to them in a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. After the tabernacle – a tent – was built, God’s glory resided in the innermost room called the Holy of Holies. 

The booths, or tents, of Sukkot depict God’s desire to live in fellowship with His people. 

Today, His presence lives within those who have placed their faith in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that one day, He would write His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31–32), and the New Covenant explains that when we believe in Yeshua, we receive God’s Holy Spirit to live inside us. (See John 16:5–15.) 

“Now it is God who establishes us with you in Messiah. He anointed us, set His seal on us, and gave us the Ruach [Spirit] in our hearts as a pledge.” ––2 Corinthians 1:21–23

It is awe-inspiring to ponder the fact that the holy God of the universe loves us so much that He would want to dwell with us. And through the Holy Spirit, His very presence is within us. He is as close as our silent prayers and always with us. In His presence, all that He is and all that He gives is available to us. By His presence, He comforts and strengthens us. He calms our fears and lifts our spirits. He provides us with a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6–7). 

Look back and remember a time when you particularly felt God’s presence and how it helped you. Thank Him for the gift of His never-failing presence.

“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” ––Psalm 42:5 (NASB)

God gave Israel the Feasts to remember historical events, and He explained how to commemorate them before Him. Jewish people say a blessing that honors and thanks God for new things or when they do something for the first time in a new year.

They bless God for their waking in the morning and again at night for Him seeing them through the day. And, they have a day set aside to intentionally celebrate God’s Word.

 Simchat Torah (SIM-khat TOR-ah) means “Joy of the Torah.” Speaking precisely, the Torah is the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These books, written by Moses, are also known as the Pentateuch. 

The word Torah means “instruction,” and Jewish people also use it in reference to the remainder of Holy Scriptures in the Tanakh (TAH-nahk) or Old Covenant. Messianic Jews understand that God’s instruction encompasses the New Covenant Scriptures as well, and is personified in Yeshua (Jesus) Himself (Hebrews 1:1‒2), who is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

Each week throughout the year, Jewish people around the world read a weekly Scripture portion from the Torah. This parasha (par-a-SHAH) unites them together as they each read the selected passages, week-by-week, from Genesis through Deuteronomy. 

Simchat Torah marks the completion of these annual Torah readings. During the morning service of Simchat Torah, worshipers read the last parasha of the year in Deuteronomy. In the evening, the yearly cycle begins again with the first reading from Genesis. Synagogue services on Simchat Torah include festive dancing and singing while as many people as possible take turns carrying the Torah scroll around the synagogue or public squares. 

A Torah scroll is a literal scroll. To make one, a scribe writes out the five books – using all kosher elements – on between 62 and 84 large sheets of parchment that then get stitched together horizontally into a continuous scroll.  Each end is attached to a spindle and rolled toward the center until they meet. By rolling and unrolling one side or the other, we can read the entire Torah. 

A Torah scroll is a cherished possession of synagogues and families. In 1949, the fledgling State of Israel rescued about 50,000 Jewish people from violent persecution in Yemen. The secret mission, called Operation Magic Carpet, transported Yemenite Jews to Israel by way of 380 airlifts. The people had to travel, mostly on foot, from their rural homes to central camps where they waited for flights. They could take from their homes only what they could carry. Many of them sacrificed other possessions to bring their Torah scrolls. 

God’s Word is a precious gift to us. Through it, the God of the universe speaks to us. He reveals who He is and reaches out to offer a relationship with Him. His Word teaches and corrects us. It restores, trains and equips us.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.”

―2 Timothy 3:16–17

God’s Word shows us His holiness and love. It is alive with His Spirit and able to interact with our hearts and minds to shape us into the image of His Son. 

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword – piercing right through to a separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

―Hebrews 4:12

Simchat Torah celebrates this fantastic, life-giving communication of God to us. Take some time on this special holiday to rejoice in the gift of God’s Word. 

Rabbis teach that at Sukkot, we recount four things: that God is a God of remembrance, deliverance, holiness and provision. There are three more that, as Messianic Jewish Believers, we find appropriate to celebrate during the Feast of Sukkot: God’s protection, His presence, and our relationship with Him. Join us each day of Sukkot for another devotion focusing on one of these remembrances.

Our God of Remembrance

God knows us. He knows how forgetful we are. Thus, He established certain Feasts as remembrances to ensure that we would not forget what He has brought us out of and the things He has done for us. Sukkot is one of those Feasts.

Sukkot is a time to remember with joy – God actually commands it (Deuteronomy 16:14). This joy springs from the intentional act of remembering. The Psalmists often practiced this spiritual discipline, recounting Israel’s history and the many ways God intervened on their behalf. They took the time to write and recite the God-stories of Passover, the Exodus and the wilderness. In revisiting the miracles God performed and past examples of His power and faithfulness, these writers found comfort and peace for what they faced in their present circumstances. And they passed on the encouragement to generations after them.

“I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.”  ––Psalm77:11–12 (NKJV)

The practice of remembrance blesses us. It imparts strength and inspires us to share with others about our great God. We receive comfort, and God receives glory, drawing others to Him.

What are some of the God-stories in your life that you need to remember today? Thank Him for them, and consider sharing His wonders with others so they too will be uplifted by God’s goodness. 

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. ––Psalm 111:4 (NKVJ)

Have you ever gone camping – the kind where you sleep in a tent and go without electricity and running water? Close quarters, hard ground, no kitchen – the experience makes everyday tasks a little more difficult. Life while camping is a bit less comfortable, but it’s worth it, right? 

Getting away from our usual routine and customary conveniences can refresh us. The simplified living can help us return to important thoughts that our regular lives tend to crowd out. We engage around the campfire at night, telling stories, laughing and drawing close to one another in ways that our fast-paced lives don’t offer. 

This sort of pared-down living is part of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, called Sukkot (Soo-KOTE) in Hebrew. Sukkot means “booths” or tents. When God instituted the Feast of Booths, He required that Israel build temporary structures and live in them for the seven-day festival. He called Israel to remember and rejoice while living like their wilderness-ancestors. 

Rabbinic tradition says that a sukkah (SOUH-kah) be constructed of any material, with 3 sides walled in. The roof, however, must be made with organic matter, such as leafy branches. 

Sukkot was one of three annual pilgrimage Feasts for which all physically able Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem. They lived in temporary structures while they were away from home, doing without the conveniences they’d grown accustomed to having. 

Today, Jewish people around the world build sukkot in their backyards or on balconies, taking their evening meals, relaxing, entertaining guests, and even sleeping there. Sukkot are often decorated by hanging fresh fruit from the ceiling or along the edges as a symbol of God’s provision and care. 

The booths remind us that the people of Israel dwelled in booths and tents upon the deliverance from Egypt. As we spend time in our sukkot, we can shed some of the bustle of everyday life and rejoice in God’s presence and provision. Through the loosely woven roof, we can look up and see the night sky. We remember God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars and rejoice in His faithfulness. 

During synagogue services, special ceremonies and prayers are performed including waving a lulav (LOO-lahv) bouquet, a gathering of leafy branches made from the four specific species outlined in Leviticus 23:40. The grouping includes a citrus-like fruit called the etrog (ET-trog), lulav (palm branches), willows called aravot (AR-a-vote), and myrtle.

This year, Sukkot begins at sundown on Sunday, October 13 and ends at sunset on Sunday, October 20. This Sukkot, take time to remember the various ways God has provided for you in the last year. Give Him thanks, and rejoice in His presence.