THE VOICE part 1
“When [Bartimaeus] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’”
Mark 10:47

When the first season of The Voice came on television, I was an avid watcher. I didn’t miss a single show, and many times would re-watch them on demand. This time around, however, I have just not gotten into the show. Nothing against the singers, the host, or even the judges, it just hasn’t grabbed my attention this season. But in reading my Bible more and more these days, I am concerned with voices I read of. Over the next few days I want to camp out on a few voices written within the pages of God’s Word, and perhaps see how they relate to me.
Today I want to look at a well known story in the book of Mark. We know of Bartimaeus as the blind beggar, sitting by the roadside. As Jesus is coming up to Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, the blind man called out. But I don’t want us to get stuck on the fact that he was blind. I do, however, want us to get stuck on the fact that he called out. Upon hearing that Jesus was coming he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Yet for calling out for his miracle he was instantly hushed by the people, rebuked and told to be quiet. That could have been the end of the story, but it is not. Instead he shouted out even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And then something happened. Jesus stopped. Imagine the look on the people’s faces when the very ones that had just told the blind man to shut up were now being asked to bring the man to Jesus. Imagine their thought process when they realized Jesus wanted to see him.
For years I have read this story and casually thought, oh blind Bartimaeus got his sight back, but there is so much more here. Yes that is one part, but how did he get his sight back? He first had to get Jesus’ attention. And how did he get Jesus’ attention? He called out. And when he was told to hush, he called out louder than before. When he was told to shut up, he spoke up. When he was rebuked, he refused. He continued and continued, not swayed by the crowd, not swayed by the comments they made. Their response only made him cry out louder.
So how does this relate to me? Well I find myself in a pivotal position right now, questioning a next move in my life. In all honesty, I am fearful of making a wrong choice. I have been like Bartimaeus and called out, “Jesus, I need direction.” I have shared my crossroads with a few people and already I have heard the comments of how I do not need to pray about that, but rather should just go for it. But here is the thing, I no longer want to be blinded. I do not want to be wandering aimlessly in life. I want to see. The words of the crowd hushing me only work the opposite direction; they make me cry out all the more, “Jesus, I need direction!” And continue to call out I will until He stops and calls for me, asking what I need and opening my eyes.
Are you in the same place? Are you on the roadside also, calling out to Him? Then do not stop. In fact, raise the volume of your voice. Cry out all the more. Scream at the top of your lungs. When the crowd tells you to be quiet, yell louder! Call out until He stops and calls for you, asking you what it is you need.

IT WAS SO WORTH IT
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
James 4:8a

I have decided this morning that I am going to be completely honest with you about an event in my past. Now it is true that some of you know me personally, while others of you only know me through my writings and Facebook interactions. But either way, I hope that as I share just briefly today you get to know the real me. With that said, I invite you to travel back in time with me to December 27, 2007.
This was the day when life changed for me, both good and bad. Just days before December 27, I had celebrated the holiday with my children and wife. But on this day I was finding myself leaving. What had happened? Well, weeks before my wife of nine plus years had filed for divorce, and I was asked to move out. It had been a hard marriage and I will be the first to admit that early on I had been the biggest problem. Yet even after trying to work differences out, visiting numerous counselors, and doing anything that may change her mind, the gap in differences was never filled. Do I blame her for this split? No, and this is not meant to be a devotional that brings her shame. Again, I take full responsibility for my wrongs. And while I hate re-living this negative part of my life, it is only from this part that I find the joy I want to share today.
It was in the moving out that I was able to find myself again. It was in the divorce that I learned who my friends were. But it was through all this pain and questioning that I made an even greater discovery. It was in this depth that I once again found my Savior. I had heard it said in my DivorceCare class that following divorce people do one of two things – they either run from God or to God. I was determined to run toward Him. With boxes scattered all over my new apartment, with little to no furniture, and with snow falling outside, I opened my Bible for Him to speak. I needed to know it was going to be alright. I needed to know He was with me when it seemed like so many had cast me off. And I needed to know I was still loved.
James 4:8 states bluntly, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” I took this verse literally. I made a point to seek His face and listen for His voice. Daily I was in the Word, taking notes, looking up the Greek and Hebrew in my Strong’s Concordance, and praying. Am I saying this so that you can applaud me? By no means. I am saying this because in this dark time God moved from being my crutch to being the reason I am who I am now. In this time He became my God, my healer, my redeemer, my shepherd, and my provider. In no way do I ever want to re-live the pain of divorce, but just the same I would never trade my past. Why? Because believe it or not, it was so worth it.
I do not know your situation, but I can bet you are in one of two positions right now. First, you may be able to relate to this story of my past because you too have lived through the pain and are now defined by the growth made in this time. Or second, you are in the trenches of the pain now, wondering when it will end and what it will look like on the other side. I encourage you with this truth, dive in to Him. Take the plunge and draw near to Him. He knows all the answers, relates to all the feelings, and can handle all the emotions and questions you have for Him. Draw close to Him. He longs to move from your crutch to your God, but it takes your moving.
It was three months after my divorce; three months in the trenches when I heard His voice as clear as day tell me, “The pain of which you are in will be the platform from which you will speak.” When I was in deep I never thought I would see the end. But it was so worth it, and today my pain and my drawing near to Him is used for His glory. Know this, your pain also is worth it, you’ll see.

KINGS OR PRINCES
“’I will bless [Sarah]; moreover, I will give you a son by her. Truly I will bless her: she will be a mother of nations; kings of people will come from her.’”
Genesis 17:16

If you follow also with the Torah readings at all, you will note that this week’s reading comes from the Parashah (portion) titled Lech Lecha, meaning to “go out” or “leave”. This section of reading begins in Genesis 12:1 where we see God speaking to Abram to leave the country he has know and move to the country he will be shown by God. Now outside of the faith that it took for Abram to make this move in the first place, we also see his faith challenged in his dealings with the ruler of Egypt and calling Sarai his sister as opposed to wife, his faith in dealing with Lot, and his faith in trusting God for offspring. The portion drips with faith and is where honestly I find myself at times. As one who wants to trust God in every area, I have no problem confessing to you that I struggle. Life has not been the smooth sailing ride that I hoped and planned that it would be, but just because life isn’t wonderful does not mean I have been abandoned. In fact, as I am learning, it just means His clock and my clock are not set to the same time. Nonetheless, the promises God has given to me, as He also gave to Abram, will come about. Let us look forward.
The promise made to Abram was that he would be the father of many nations. This is a portion of Abram’s life we know well. However, a promise was also made of Sarai. In Genesis 17:16, as God is speaking to Abram, we read concerning Sarai, “’I will bless Sarai, moreover, I will give you a son by her. Truly I will bless her: she will be a mother of nations; kings of people will come from her.’”
Abram’s son, Ishmael, was born not only of Hagar as opposed to Sarai, but also born when Abram was not yet circumcised. It wasn’t until later when he was 99 that he and Ishmael, as well as all the other males within the camp, were circumcised. It was also at this time that Adonai changed Sarai’s name meaning mockery, to Sarah meaning princess. As with Abraham, so also it was with Sarah that a name change meant a pivot in the direction of her life. It was also at this time that God spoke that another son would be born to Abraham. This time the son would be birthed by Sarah, and his name would be Isaac.
As I was reading this portion in the Bible, a light bulb came on. In Genesis 17:16, God states that through Sarah’s birth to Isaac, she would become the mother of nations. It was declared that following this line, kings of peoples would come from her. We know that further on down the line the twelve tribes of Israel were birthed. Following these lines further, especially those of Benjamin and Judah, we see the kings that were promised in Saul, David, Solomon, and those who would come after. Compare this to Genesis 17:20 when Abraham is concerned with what will become of Ishmael. Although Ishmael is also his son, a promise from God is given, but not quite to the same extent. God declares that this line too will be great, but as opposed to kings, Ishmael’s line will see twelve princes. Did you catch that? To one will come kings while to the other only princes. Does this mean that God doesn’t care as much for the line of Ishmael? Not at all. But what it does state, or rather prove, is that the plans of man fail in comparison to the plans of God.
I am learning to be cautious. I am learning more so these days to stop and seek God’s ways. Too many times I have already stepped out in what I thought were good ideas only to find out that I made huge mistakes. I am learning the hard way that my plans are not always right. Instead of stepping out and hoping that God blesses my ideas, I need instead to wait, seek Him, and step where He says to step. In His path is the blessing that I desire to have fall over my life. But the minute I become out of sync with Him, the minute I step out from under His cover, that is when I find myself like Abram instead of Abraham.
Perhaps our biggest challenge is simply that; simply trying to not step ahead of God. I am grateful that there is a whole book full of others like me who have done this. I am grateful that their lessons are recorded for me to read and take into consideration. But it is not enough just to read it. I must apply these lessons. Oh God, how I pray that your words become the lessons I live by as opposed to the stories I read. I pray that I would stop stepping ahead of You and expecting you to bless my ways. May I always find myself walking in Your ways instead.

WHO AM I?
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
I Peter 2:9

The last few days, maybe even the last week or so, I have found myself in a few interesting situations. No I am not talking crazy situations, but interesting. It seems as though I have been finding myself in places where God is using me more. For example, I was at the grocery store over the weekend and someone came up next to me and, from looking at my clothing, began asking me a few questions about my faith. I have even seen it via facebook and other chat room type settings, where people are approaching me and asking me questions. Now the normal person on the street who doesn’t know me from Adam has no idea about the fact that I have a theology degree, yet they approach me. Is there a vibe I put out, is it truly the clothes that I wear, or is it something more? Who am I that people are drawn to me? And maybe more so the correct question, who am I at all?
I know the Bible says in I Peter 2:9 that I am a peculiar person, and trust me, I have my moments of being peculiar. But this ‘peculiar’ definition of me is way beyond just my dressing strange or eating weird food mixtures. In fact, this word ‘peculiar’ in the Greek is PERIPOIESIS and it means to be preserved and possessed, to be a property of. Now hold on, that is pretty deep; so deep that I think we need to look at the entire verse. We first learn that we are a chosen generation. We are EKLEKTOS, meaning specifically picked out, elected as if by God, and selected as best in class. Then we are told we are a royal priesthood. In the Greek the words are BASILEIOUS, meaning kingly and regal, and HIERATEUMA, meaning holding of the office of priest. Lastly Peter describes us as a holy nation. Holy here is HAGIOS, meaning the most holy or saintly thing.
When we put it all together, we see that Peter is writing that we are a hand-picked, best in class people, regal and priestly, upholding to a high degree of holiness, and specifically preserved and possessed. This is what we are said to be, but is this what we believe? Do you believe that this is who you are? The question of ‘who am I?’ may be a question that you have been asking yourself. And to the best of my ability, I think I am coming to grips with an answer to this question. Would you like to hear it?
The me I see is not the me that God sees me as. God sees me as a person who He wanted to create, who He wanted to have a relationship with, and that He is so proud of that He wants to show me off. God sees me as kingly and priestly even though He knows that at times I act like the street bum who lives in the sewer of sin. God sees me as one who is holy because I am trying hard to walk in His steps of holiness. And God sees me as one who He wants to be with so much that He continues to preserve me from the enemy, and reclaim His possession of me in His love. Who am I? I am His!
So why is it that people approach me in the store, or ask me questions in facebook chats and such? I hold nothing more than a humble opinion of who I am. I choose to believe it is because people see Him in me, shining forth, and they are drawn to Him in me. They see that I really am ‘peculiar’, preserved and possessed, and they want that same sense of being wanted. The good news is that it can be theirs, just as it can be yours. So how about it? Are you ready to be peculiar also?

BUBBLE BURSTING
“Of every clean animal you are to take seven couples, and of the animals that are not clean, one couple.”
Genesis 7:2

Over the weekend I found myself talking with my kids about some realities in life. I love how my kids are still at that innocent age where they believe everything ends as happy as an 80’s episode of Full House. But as we were chatting Saturday night after watching the movie, October Baby, I had to explain to them what an abortion was. As I explained, I watched their faces grow sad and tearful. Thought that a parent would not want a child had such a great impact on them both. With hesitancy in his voice, my son asked, “Were we wanted?” My response in the grandest of hugs was, “Yes! I wanted you both so badly.”
The statement is filled with truth, as even now I watch my children getting ready for school. I wanted them more than they will ever understand. But as I recall our conversation and movie, I cannot help but wonder something else. How many other bubbles need to be popped? I do not mean this in a rude fashion. I simply mean that as their understanding of a parent not wanting a child was popped, so I question also other realities. For example, as one who has grown up in the church, I wonder how many things I take as fact that really aren’t fact. How many things have been preached from a pulpit that sound good but carry only slight, if any, truth? Sadly, one only has to look at Genesis 7 to a major flaw in preaching, a bubble bursting so to say. That said, I feel I may need to burst your bubble a bit as we move forward.
I grew up in a Baptist church as a young lad, and then later in a non-denominational church from about ten years of age and all through college. With that said, I grew up hearing the story of Noah and the ark and with the image of cuteness when thinking on the story of Noah. I mean, honestly, when we hear the story of Noah we automatically think of the cute baby backdrops of cartoon drawn animals bundled together, giraffes extending their long necks out the windows, and a bird perched on the top of the ark. What we do not think of, however, is that the story of Noah has a grim plot. Only eight people survived. We focus on the animals but fail to remember all those who were not righteous and perished. That easily could have been us had we lived in the time of Noah. Sure, we all say we are living right for God, but are we? Are we living our version of righteous (TZEDEKAH) or His? Noah was saved because his lifestyle matched God’s definition, because he was blameless (TAMIM). Let us come to a simple understanding here by agreeing that Noah was not perfect. No one is perfect. But he walked in the aspects of keeping God’s commands. So already, I am sure I have changed your opinion on the account of Noah and his family. But, there is more. Allow me to continue before you chose to stone me.
In Sunday School growing up it was always taught that the animals went in to ark in pairs. With this idea it always seemed as though only two animals of each kind went in the ark. So there was a male and female lion, male and female kangaroo, and male and female aardvark, and so on and so forth. But having read this passage again, the true story is different. While the animals did go in perhaps two by two, there were not two of every animal. According to Genesis 7:2, some breeds of animals came in sevens, and per Genesis 7:3, the birds of the air also came in sevens. Did I just change your theology? It was these clean animals that were used in sacrifices and for food while Noah and his family were on the ark. I realize that this may not be the way you learned it either, but this is coming directly from God’s Word. But maybe the question you have is what makes an animal clean verses unclean? The word for clean is TAHOR and means ritually fit. An unclean animal (TAMEI) denoted the animal as ritually unfit for both sacrifice and food.
But here is the challenge I find myself facing, and maybe the same challenge you are facing. For so long, being raised in a standard Christian church, I have found myself believing what was taught to me as opposed to what I read for myself. I recall the flannel board cutouts that showed the ark and the animals in pairs walking up the ramp to it. I never challenged if I was being taught right information. Still, of how many other lessons have I just taken someone’s word as truth without searching it out for myself? And how many other words have I listened to as opposed to listening only to the voice of God? The challenge for all of us today should be in seeking out or hearing God’s Word for ourselves as opposed to letting another’s word dictate our understanding. He is speaking, and He has left all the answers. Are we listening and looking for the truth?

THE GOOD MAN
“So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27

I returned from my vacation with the kids on Sunday and worked hard to return to life as I knew it before leaving. I was happy to see the house clean as I had left it before going, but I made two discoveries. First, as I went to turn on the hall light, it would not come on. I had just replaced the light bulb about two weeks before leaving, yet still in my absence it had burnt out. The second discovery took me a little longer to notice. Late in the evening, when my daughter asked what time she should return from playing with her friends, I looked at the clock and spoke a random time. I looked again, though, not thinking it as late as the clock said, and noticed that the clock had stopped. During our trip the battery in the clock also had died. Both my hall light and clock were missing their connection. They weren’t missing in and of themselves, but something was missing that was preventing them from performing their action. This was not, in my eyes, good.
If we were to look back over the first few days of creation we would notice that at the close of the first five days God looked over His work and declared it good. We see this in Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21 and 25. Up until this time all that God had created was good. But on day six when God added man as part of His creation, He looked over what He had made and declared it very good (1:31). What was it that allowed this piece of creation to move away from the good category to that of the very good? While the world and animals and plants were all made within the spoken command of God, man was made within His image. It is this single difference that separated man from anything else, and it is this difference which defines man’s relationship with his Creator. You see, from the Torah’s perspective, human life is a miracle from God. The creation of humans was a deliberate act, which in and of itself gives human life dignity and purpose.
In Hebrew, ADAM means man. Taking only the dirt, God created something more. He breathed life into dirt, or in Hebrew, He did what is called NESHAMAH, He gave man a soul. Adam only became a man when God breathed into his nostrils the neshamah of life, the soul of existence. While we are physically a gathering of chromosomes, we are more importantly vessels containing a spark of God’s breath. Perhaps likening it to a light bulb or battery makes more sense. The hall light or clock needing the bulb or battery will not come alive without the new bulb or energized battery. So God’s breath is to us. His breath in our soul allows us to come to life.
So if we are in the image of God, then how are we in His image? Like Him, we are a thinking, reasoning animal, with free will and self-determination. Yet, from the beginning man has had a hole that only God can fill. This hole desires God, but in many areas is filled with others items or idols. The problem, however, is that these other things cannot fill it correctly because they do not represent God correctly. Have you ever heard the phrase of putting a square peg in a round whole? This void and desire are much the same. The hole is the round hole, but the idol is the square peg. Sure, it can be jammed in there, manipulated, or cut smaller so as to fit, but the true fit only comes with a round peg in a round hole.
We are made in His image. We are made in the reflection of God and for His joy. Why then do we walk around feeling as though we hold no value? Our creator has declared us very good. But then why also do we so casually run from our Creator and seek other things that will not bring us the fulfillment in life that only our Creator can? Isn’t it time we start seeing ourselves as His reflection and allow Him to be the peg that fills our hole?

DON’T TOUCH
“…but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die’”
Genesis 3:3

As I shared a few days back, I have been spending this past week with my family. I have noticed over the last few days that there are a few different rules between my mom’s house and my house. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but my kids are learning a whole new idea of respect. When at grandma’s house, they must obey grandma’s rules. Now since grandma has many items that are valuable, easily breakable, and sentimental, they have to be aware of what they can touch and should not touch. At my home my children know what to touch and what not to touch, but here they are learning all over again what is safe verses what is not. For instance, while it is safe for them to use my dishes at home, I would not let them just grab grandma’s dishes from the cabinet, especially her fine china. Even playing the piano at grandma’s house, which has been in the family since grandpa was a boy, needs to be touched in caution and under supervision as my kids like to pound the keys.
But the fact of being cautious in what we do and do not touch is nothing new. Truth be told, it was the touching of things early on that got mankind into trouble. After creating the earth and everything in it, God then made man and woman. While mankind was made in God’s image, they were still given rules. Taking care of the land was a requirement given to man, but the ability to eat of almost any tree was just as well. God commanded His people to eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The rule was given and known by both Adam and Eve, yet…
I know this story full well even in my own life. Even though the sign says stay out, keep off, or don’t touch, I find myself wanting to do the opposite. Now in Eve’s case, we read in Genesis 3 that the crafty serpent lured her. In my life, I do not have a crafty serpent hanging from a tree slithering his secrets in my ear, but I nonetheless hear his words. And they make me doubt what God has said. They make me want to touch. And they make me want to do the opposite of all I know is right. I, just like Eve, take the fruit.
While we all know the story of Eve taking the apple from the tree, biting into it, and passing it to Adam to enjoy, I wonder if we overlook a fraction of the story. The command from God was not to eat it only, but also not to touch it. I think we equate the bad of this story with the fact that they both ate of the fruit and that this action caused their death, their being removed from the Garden and such. But after reading this account again I see the word ‘touch’ glaring at me. They were told to not “…eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.” It doesn’t matter if they ate it, they were not even supposed to touch it. Even if they had not shared bites, they still would have had the same fate for simply touching it.
So let me ask this, what are you touching that God has said no to. I think in regards of dating. God has told us to not have sexual relations before marriage. This is a sin and it brings a curse on the marriage. This in many ways is like the eating of the fruit. But is it possible God never wanted you to date that person from the beginning? By dating a person God does not give us permission to date, we are in essence touching the forbidden fruit also. Let us not get so concerned with only the biting when the truth of God’s command includes the touching also. I challenge you to reconsider what you are touching that God has told you not to touch. Obviously the consumption is wrong, but it may be time to get our hands off the things we are touching as well, confess the sin, and step away from the tree altogether.

THE DONUT SHOP
“Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

My children are on Fall Break this week, and as such we have taken a journey to grandma’s house a couple states away from home. It is usually while on these vacations that the normal life is pushed aside and vacation life takes over. This normally includes extras like fun attractions, food, and lots of shopping. Today was no exception. Before anyone else was awake this morning, my kids began conspiring a way to get me to take them to the donut shop. Hearing them in the background with my eyes closed pretending I was asleep, I heard them debate the proper way to ask me, or better yet convince me, that donuts were needed. Little did they know that I too had just the night before thought about getting a donut and pretty much had already had a trip to the shop planned out. As I listened to their words, however, I was reminded of the days when I too would work to convince my parents that donuts were needed. Oh how it all comes back around.
But I was reminded of something else as well, on a deeper and spiritual level. It is in Hebrews 4:16 that we are told to come boldly before the throne of God. You see, my children were working out a way to convince me that donuts were needed instead of simply just asking, “Dad, can we get donuts?” Now they had no idea that I would say yes, but they choose not to boldly ask. Does that sound like anyone we know? Does that sound like us? I know that for myself, I still suffer with believing I have the right to approach God boldly and ask Him for something. I struggle with believing I have the right to ask, and that He wants to bless me with the things I ask for.
Let us take a minute, though, and look at the word ‘confidently’, or as other translations write, ‘boldly’. In the Greek it is the word PARRHESIA and means to have a freedom in speaking, without concealment, confidence, assurance, and in courage. It means a little more than what I always thought it meant. It isn’t just coming before God without fear in asking, but more in depth it means to come before God without holding anything back in our words, not being timid, and speaking in the assurance that what we are asking of God He will give us in our time of need. Now be honest, is that how your have been coming before God?
Before I close, though, I want to look at a couple more verses related to this passage that may help us to come in boldness before God. In looking at Hebrews 4:14 we read that we have a great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who has passed through heaven, and because of Him we are to hold fast to our profession. Then in verse 15 we read that He empathizes with us in our weaknesses and in our temptations. Therefore He can relate. And because He can relate, He wants us to come with boldness before Him.
I encourage you today to come in boldness before Him. He understands and He wants to bless. We do not need to come up with some sly way of tricking Him into giving us what we need, because He already knows what we need and already wants to give us what we need. So whether you want a donut, or something far greater, all that is required is to come boldly before Him with your request. Go ahead, ask Him even now, and watch as in due time His hand of blessing opens over you.
With that said, I’m off to the donut store with my kids.

THE BETHLEHEM SUKKAH
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”
Luke 2:4-5

A few days back I shared with you that many believe Sukkot could indeed be the true time of Yeshua's birth. I shared with you that if we consider this was a time when people from all over would return for the celebration as commanded, then it would makes sense that the Romans would use this gathering for their benefit, in the calculation of the people. So then, today I want us to look at a few details, outside of what I have already shared. Based on my previous entry, the time of John the Baptist’s birth was around Shavout (Pentecost). As the Bible records, when Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth was in her sixth month (Lk 1:36) and Mary stayed for about three months after just finding out the news of her own pregnancy (Lk 1:56). This then places Yeshua’s birth during the days of Sukkot. And it is Sukkot that is known as the holy day commemorating Adonai's dwelling with His people. But let us consider a few things about a sukkah that also point this event and season together
For those of you who have never seen a sukkah, I will do my best to explain one. A sukkah is a temporary shelter that can be built with 2 ½ sides, 3 sides, or 4 sides covered. That may not seem like anything special, but it does play a part. Maybe to understand the sukkah better we still need to travel back in time a little further. In jumping over to Genesis 33:17, we read that Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built for himself and his livestock, shelters or sukkot (the plural for sukkah). He made a makeshift hut for himself, as well as his animals. Now skip back to where we left off in Luke, and the infamous Christmas story, and where was the Messiah born? He was born in an animal makeshift covering. He was born in a sukkah. And why? He was born in a sukkah because there was no more room in any of the inns in Bethlehem.
Is it beginning to make more sense now? With so many people coming into Bethlehem for the Feast of Tabernacles, as was commanded by God as one of three times the people were to return home, there was nowhere else to stay. The hotels of their day were full. But I wonder why Joseph was looking for a hotel room during Sukkot. Surly he knew the Feasts, and knew this one was celebrated by the people by living in these temporary shelters as God commanded in Leviticus. My mind can only wrap around the fact that because of her pregnancy he wanted something a little more private and comfortable for her and the baby. Yet God had other plans.
Allow me to throw one more thought out there for you. On Sukkot, we build the sukkah not only for our family, but also to host guests and friends, and anyone else who may wish to join in the celebration. If Joseph had gotten a hotel room, would the shepherds been able to come? The angels welcomed the shepherds to the sukkah to join in the celebration. Because of this, the Bible records that they spread the word about what they had seen and been told about the child. Who would have done this if the shepherds had not been allowed in the hotel room?
The scripture is true in saying there was no room in the inn, but that is because God had bigger plans. Not only did He want His command fulfilled about living in the sukkah during this time, but He also wanted to invite the world into the sukkah. He wanted to invite the world to tabernacle with Him in this great time. And He still is inviting people to the sukkah. I encourage you to come. All are welcome as the door of the sukkah is always open. Will you come? Will you spend this Feast with us, and look upon the one who has saved the world? The door is open.