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The story in Leviticus 23






 In the heart of ancient Israel, there lived a woman named Miriam who eagerly awaited the sacred festivals each year. From a young age, she had been taught the importance of the holy days described in Leviticus 23—God’s appointed times for the people to gather, remember, and celebrate His goodness.

As the season of Passover approached, Miriam helped her family prepare the unleavened bread and select the lamb for the feast. The entire village buzzed with anticipation, for Passover was not only a time of remembrance but a celebration of deliverance—the night when their ancestors were freed from Egypt.

Miriam’s grandfather often told stories of that night, emphasizing how God had commanded the people to observe the feast as a lasting ordinance. “This is the Lord’s appointed feast,” he would say, “a time to remember His mighty power and mercy.”

After Passover, the community prepared for the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, counting seven weeks from the offering of the first barley sheaf. Miriam loved the joyous gathering, where they brought their grain offerings and rejoiced in the harvest God had provided.

Then came the Feast of Trumpets, a solemn yet hopeful day marked by the sound of rams’ horns calling the people to worship and repentance. Miriam felt her heart lifted as the trumpet’s blast echoed through the valley, reminding everyone to prepare for the Day of Atonement.

The Day of Atonement was a day of fasting and humility. Miriam’s family gathered in quiet prayer, seeking God’s forgiveness and renewal. It was a sacred pause, a reset for the soul.

Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles arrived—a week of thanksgiving and dwelling in booths, recalling the wilderness journey. Miriam delighted in decorating the booths with palm branches and fruit, celebrating God’s provision and faithfulness.

Through these appointed times, Miriam and her people learned to live rhythmically with God’s presence—times of joy, reflection, repentance, and gratitude. Leviticus 23 was not merely a list of dates but a divine invitation to experience God’s holiness and grace throughout the year.

And so, year after year, Miriam’s heart remained steadfast, anchored in the sacred seasons that shaped her faith and community, teaching all who listened that God’s timing is perfect and His ways holy.


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