Booths

How do you keep from taking God’s provision for granted? The Feast of Booths—Sukkot—had Israel remember how He carried them through the wilderness.

“Everyone … shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths … and if any of the families of the earth do not go up … there will be no rain on them” (Zechariah 14:16–17).

Today at sundown begins the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles). The Hebrew word is Sukkot. This feast commemorates the years the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. It celebrates the way God took special care of them under impossible conditions. Sukkot lasts for seven days, and work is not permitted on the first two days.

These days were sacred to God—one of His “appointed feasts.” He commanded His people, “for seven days is the Feast of Booths” (Leviticus 23:34). During this time, they were to “dwell in booths” (v. 42). Why? He wanted every generation to experience a taste of what their ancestors had gone through and feel what it was like when they were brought out from the land of Egypt. Celebrating this feast would help them stay humble and remind them not to take His blessings for granted.

Is the Feast of Booths still important to God? Yes, indeed. Just consider the prophetic passage from Zechariah 14:16–19. It was so important that the celebration of this feast was kept, it became a dividing point, showing who was truly a worshiper of the King. Those who refused to worship the Lord during this feast would receive no rain.

In our busy world, forgetting and overlooking is common. On this day, God is giving us a vital opportunity to think about our lives—our past and future—to remember Him and His Word!

Reflection Question: Today, think about the special care God takes for His people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Feast of Booths (Sukkot)?

A seven-day autumn festival when Israel lived in temporary shelters to remember God’s provision during the wilderness years (Leviticus 23:33–43). It was also a joyful harvest celebration and one of three annual pilgrimage feasts.

Why does Zechariah 14 connect this feast to “all the nations”?

The passage looks ahead to a time when the nations come to worship the King and keep the Feast of Booths. It signals God’s purpose to draw all peoples—not Israel alone—into worship of Him.