Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. — Zechariah 14:16

Throughout this week, my family and I will join Jews around the world in celebrating Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. Please enjoy these devotions, which were prepared for you in advance, about this joyous holiday that immediately follows the High Holy Days.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be in the Bible? I don’t mean to suggest that you or I would be Abraham, Moses, or one of the other main characters. I mean just living at that time and being a part of the story.

Can you imagine being among the crowd that crossed the Red Sea? Or standing there to witness the walls of Jericho come crumbling down? Or just being a simple citizen, making the trek to Jerusalem to celebrate the festivals in Jerusalem.

If you love the Bible like I do, I’m sure you’ve thought about this, too.

But if you think about it, we actually can be in the Bible. You see, the Bible doesn’t only tell stories about the past. It also describes events that will take place in the future. For example, when Moses said that after a long exile the Jewish people would return from the four corners of the earth, was he talking about me? Am I one of the people in the Bible?

The People of the Bible

But it’s not just about the Jews. Consider Zechariah’s prophecy about Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. We read, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.”

When is this supposed to happen? Zechariah prophesied regarding the time, far in the future, when the nation of Israel would be restored to our land after the exile. And he described how there will be a change of heart among “survivors” — also translated as “a remnant” — from the nations that had previously been enemies of Israel. This remnant will not only become friends of the Jewish people, but they will even join us in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles!

One of my favorite events every year is the parade that takes place in Jerusalem during Sukkot. Tens of thousands of Christians from around the world parade through the streets of Jerusalem, singing, praising God, and declaring their love for God and Israel.

We don’t need to be envious of the people in Bible. It’s already happening today! We are the people in the Bible.

Your turn: Helping the Jewish people return and rebuild the land of Israel is a fulfilment of biblical prophecy. Be that fulfilment by giving to the work of IFCJ Canada today!