ON THE VANGUARD

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.