Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 12th of Tishrei

The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh'khinah [Glory of God] (John 1:14).

When I was young, my family would go to my bubbe and zeyde's (grandmother and grandfather's) house to celebrate Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). Zeyde rigged up an ingenious device to fulfill the biblical command to dwell in sukkot (tabernacles). He hinged the roof of the enclosed back porch and attached a pulley. When the holiday arrived, he cranked up the roof, tied it out of the way, and then covered the open space with branches and greenery. The end product, decorated with hanging fruit, kept out the glare of the sun, but allowed us to see the stars peeking through at night.

For almost all of my adult life, I have also built a sukkah (tabernacle) for my family to celebrate this holiday. Although mine have been bigger and more elaborate than Zeyde's, they have all shared the same transience and vulnerability. If it rained, we got wet. If it was cold, we sat bundled up in our coats. Whatever the weather may have been, the joy and blessing of this mitzvah (divine obligation) far outweighed any discomfort.

Similarly, the body prepared for Yeshua was like a sukkah. It was susceptible to cold, pain, and even death. Yet he embraced it gladly for our own sake, knowing that the way would be opened for us to inherit a permanent dwelling place with him in the heavens.

...enjoy the physical symbols that God gives us to deepen our understanding of spiritual truth.

MM