God instituted the Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, as a vital memorial to ensure His people remember their history and dependence on Him. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after gathering the fruit of the land, His people are to keep this feast for seven days, with a sabbath-rest on the first and eighth days. They are to take the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, rejoicing before the LORD their God for seven days. This feast is a statute forever, to be celebrated in the seventh month by dwelling in booths, so that future generations may know that He made the children of Israel dwell in booths when He brought them out of Egypt. This observance serves as a reminder of transitoriness, impermanence, and complete reliance on God during times of unsettledness. Dwelling in temporary shelters recalls the exodus and wilderness journey, emphasizing the Israelites' humble beginnings as a nation needing rescue and provision. The name Sukkot, meaning tabernacle or booth, also ties to the place Succoth, where the Israelites first camped after leaving Ramses, a location named earlier by Jacob for the booths he built for his livestock. This connection underscores the humbling reality of their dependence, akin to a herd of sheep requiring care. The Feast of Booths is a harvest celebration where the Israelites bring the fruit of the land and the increase of their flocks, yet God seeks a spiritual harvest of right living. According to Deuteronomy 14:22-26, they are to tithe their increase and eat before the LORD their God in the place He chooses, learning to fear Him always. They may exchange their tithe for money if the journey is too long, spending it on whatever their heart desires—oxen, sheep, wine, or similar drink—and rejoice with their household before Him. This feast keeps them off balance, with abundant food but lacking the comforts of home, prompting reflection on what is missing and reinforcing that God's providence is perfect, even when it falls short of personal expectations. God desires this memorial to instill reverential awe through experiencing His provision, yet historically, Israel often failed to keep the Feast with the right mindset. They forgot the reasons for temporary dwellings, the lessons of the wilderness, and their identity as a people reliant on God's guidance through uncertain paths. The Feast of Booths calls His people to remember not only Israel's journey but also their own beginnings with Him, enduring privations joyfully and looking to Him to supply every need as He tabernacles within them.

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering, is deeply connected to the harvest, symbolizing a time of gratitude and appreciation for what God has provided throughout the year. It is a period when all are invited to rejoice, with joy stemming from an awareness of God's blessings, and it is commanded that we express this gratitude through offerings and celebration. This Feast, starting on the 15th of the seventh month, emphasizes sacrifice and offering, as numerous animals were historically offered each day, highlighting the importance of giving back to God. Additionally, the Feast of Tabernacles recalls the temporary dwellings of Israel during their 40 years in the wilderness, symbolizing that we too are on a pilgrimage, not yet at our final home. This annual observance reminds us not to become too settled, as we are strangers and pilgrims on a journey, following wherever God leads. The dual symbolism of harvest and pilgrimage together illustrates a time of massive numbers coming to truth and a journey under judgment toward the Kingdom of God, a process spanning a long period, represented by the seven days of the Feast. This Feast also foreshadows a future time after Christ returns, specifically the thousand years of His reign, during which human beings will live under judgment and have the opportunity for salvation. It is a critical time when people must show their commitment to this judgment by participating in the Feast, indicating their desire for salvation. Failure to observe it symbolizes a rejection of God's calling, prompting swift correction to encourage repentance. During this era, peace and prosperity will prevail, with the earth producing abundantly and creation returning to an Eden-like state, free from the constraints of sin, as we prepare for even greater events to come.