By Kathi Pelton
Today, Friday, September 22nd, is the last day of summer. Saturday, September 23rd, fall begins. This marks a time of crossing over from one season to another— a completion of a cycle and a season. Sunday, September 24th at sundown, Yom Kippur begins— for the Jewish people, this is the holiest day of the year. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” and Leviticus 16:30 says this about it,
“…because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.”
This day provides a fresh start, clean slate, and new beginning each year.
On a personal note, September 24th (Yom Kippur) my husband and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Forty years marks a time of crossing over from camping the desert to possessing the land of promise (land of milk and honey). I have felt a weight on this particular year, not only for us personally but for God’s corporate family. Let’s look back forty years for a moment…
Forty Biblically symbolizes a period of testing, trial and then, finally, triumph. Often it speaks of a time of doubt or faith being overruled by uncertainty being completed and then crossing over into the fullness of faith.
The Great Flood lasted forty days, Jesus fasted forty day (triumphing over every temptation of the devil), and the Israelites were in the wilderness forty years— one year for every day that the twelve spies scouted the land of Canaan but ten came back reporting that the land could not be taken.
My husband and I were married on September 24, 1983 during the Feast of Booths. On that particular day the scripture reading from the Torah was from Exodus 33:12-23 which is when the Lord is strengthening Moses’ faith in His promise to go with him. Moses says to the Lord,
“Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”” Exodus 33:12-13
“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” Exodus 33:14
In the following verses, Moses goes on to ask the Lord for His presence to go with him. The Lord answers Moses saying,
“And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33:19
I believe that this portion of scripture is for us today. Just as God was strengthening Moses’ faith, our faith is being strengthened and we are being assured that His presence will be with us and pass before us as we go forward. Doubts and fears that have brought fear are being stripped away. Even the kind of doubts that caused ten of the twelve spies to come back with a report of fear and defeat are now breaking off of us and we are moving into seeing the manifestation of a generation of Joshua and Caleb’s come into leadership that will take the land. They will put their faith in the Lord and watch His presence lead them into possessing the promise that went back to Abraham.
A faithful remnant is standing up and dismantling the camps of unbelief that have staked them to unbelief and unfulfilled dreams and promises. We will now rise up and remember the covenant promises of old. In unwavering faith, determined obedience, God’s favor, mercy and with His presence— His faithful family will lead God’s people into a miraculous crossing over. They will enter into a spiritual land (and possibly a natural manifestation) of milk and honey— and eating the fruit of promises fulfilled. We will move from the season of manna to a season of abundance and full storehouses.
As you finish this week, take time to set things right before the Lord. Shake off any residue of doubts and fears due to not trusting in God’s absolute faithfulness.
If you are alive today— you are part of the generation that is crossing over into this time of covenant promises fulfilled.
We are in a week of changing seasons and new beginnings. Cross over with sure faith, new hope, a clean slate, favor and a promise that His presence will pass before you wherever you go.
The heat of the old season is finished and an abundant rain is about to pour down upon His people.
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