Chapter 16 starts with Moses reminding the Israelites of the Holy days and celebrations. These days are important for the people to remember because they mark off significant days in their history, and they would also mark important days in the future.
The first and most obvious day for the Israelites to remember is Passover. This is the time that God brought His people out of Egypt and out of slavery
Verse 9 shows us The Festival of Harvest. Verse 14 says that this will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters.
The cool thing about these festivals and significant days is how they have evolved over time and in line with Gods plan.
It was the first pass over that God brought the people out of Egypt and it was also Passover that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, the veil in the tabernacle was torn and our relationship with God was restored.
We now celebrate this day as Easter.
Then we get to the festival of Harvest, which is 50 days or seven weeks after Passover. This day was a happy day, and one much like Thanksgiving. People would give gifts to God in proportion to the blessings they had received from Him.
This is also known as Pentecost.
Maybe you see where I’m going here.
Acts 2 records what happened during the first Pentecost after Jesus was crucified.
Isn’t it so awesome that on a day of gift giving and celebration, God would give us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
