God’s Promised Appointments

One of God’s most mysterious qualities is that he’s always there, yet we can experience his presence in a specific moment or a specific place. This can happen anywhere, unexpectedly, at any time. But maybe even more miraculously, it can also happen according to a predictable rhythm.

There are a few times every year that God has marked on the calendar. These are the times God promises to show up. The Bible calls these scheduled times “appointed times” (click the link to see a complete list in chapter 23 of Leviticus).

So what do I mean by “appointed times”? And how do God’s appointed times apply to us today? To get an idea of what the Bible means when it talks about God’s appointed times, let’s first look at the Hebrew word most often translated as “appointed time” or “appointed feast” in the Bible.

It comes from the ancient root word יעד (pronounced “a’ad”). Looking at this root word (Hebrew is read from right to left), it starts with the letter י (pronounced “yod”). Ancient Hebrew characters were recognizable symbols, similar to hieroglyphics. This character originally resembled a hand. It symbolized action. Next came the letterע (pronounced “aye-een”). Originally, this character resembled an eye. It symbolized not just seeing, but also knowing and understanding on a deep level. Finally, we have the letter ד (pronounced “dah-let”), which originally depicted a tent flap. It symbolized an opening, or the cycle of going out and coming in, raising and lowering.

I wanted to walk you through this ancient root word because it offers us a fresh, vivid description of God’s appointed times. These holidays or feasts are the times when God promises to show up and act on our behalf. They offer us an opportunity for deep understanding. They serve as a series of gateways that open each year in a cyclical rhythm.

Historically, at least one miracle occurred in conjunction with each of these feasts, and usually, there were several. In fact, many of the miracles recorded in the Gospels took place while Jesus was celebrating these appointed times.

In each of these holidays, we’re looking back at how God has loved and saved us in the past, and at the same time, we’re looking forward to even greater love and salvation that’s promised in the future.

Each of the appointed times offers a way to not just see God in action but to know and understand him on a deeper level. And each one becomes an opening, a gateway into his presence and into new life.

Appointed times are really a type of promise. They aren’t the only type of promise God makes in the Bible, but they are important because they’re a promise in both space and time. Like any appointment we make with other people, with these appointed times, God’s is saying, “You and I have an appointment. I put it on my calendar, and I’ll be there. I promise to show up.”

Most of us either haven’t read about these ancient celebrations, or we feel that they don’t apply to us if we don’t have Jewish ancestry. When we do read about them, they can seem very foreign and far from our reality.

While it is true that these celebrations were given to the nation of Israel as gifts, it’s also true that God calls them his feasts, his appointments. We know from the creation account that God already had them in mind before he created humans. And we know from reading the biblical prophets that these feasts are envisioned as part of our future reality in God’s kingdom.

So even though they were originally entrusted to Israel, and are still cherished by the people of Israel several millennia later, if we dismiss them or imagine they don’t apply to us, we miss an incredible opportunity.

While we’re living in this in-between place, I believe God is still showing up for his appointments. Because I am his and these feasts are his, I believe there’s a place set for me at his holiday table.

Even though many of the practices that were part of Jesus’ experience during temple times aren’t possible today, we can still remember. We can take time to learn a song or prayer or prepare a special food that connects us to an ancient rhythm. Many of the traditions associated with these holidays are surprisingly accessible to us today. After thousands of years, they still have an incredible freshness.

And each time I show up, whether that looks like hosting a party for 100 people, or praying a blessing by myself, I come away transformed. The promise of time together really is the most precious gift.

Hannah Kallio is an Israeli who’s at home in France, Italy, and Minnesota. A homemaker who had it all, gave it all away, and lived out of a backpack. She loves one man, 5 kids, and the crazy story God is writing in their lives even more than palm trees, ancient ruins, and deepest dark chocolate. She writes, coaches, speaks, sings, and creates her guts out at hannahkallio.org.

Photograph © Erik Witsoe, used with permission