The festival of Sukkot is God-ordered and it is a sacred and joyful time on the biblical calendar to focus on God’s dwelling among His people. Known as the “Season of Our Joy,” Sukkot recalls God’s protection and provision during Israel’s wilderness journey. As commanded in Leviticus 23:42, the people were to live in sukkahs—temporary shelters—to remember that God “made the people of Israel live in sukkahs when I brought them out of Egypt.” Jewish sages teach that the sukkah itself symbolized the Sh’khinah, the “Glory Cloud” that shielded Israel from scorching sun and wild beasts, and provided water and food. It is God’s tangible presence wherever His people go. And it has great prophetic implications.
Modern sukkahs may look different—built from wood or canvas, topped with branches or bamboo—but the symbolism remains the same. The open roof allows those inside to see the heavens, a visual reminder that God’s presence still hovers over His people as it did in the desert. Sukkot is also a time of hospitality and joy, marked by blessings, songs, and shared meals. Tradition holds that Abraham’s “sukkah,” his tent, was open to all, where he offered food and introduced travelers to the one true God. In that spirit, Sukkot calls us not only to rejoice in God’s presence but to extend that joy outward, welcoming others into the story of faith just as Abraham did. The seventh day of Sukkot, known as Hoshana Rabbah (“Great Salvation”), carries special prophetic weight.
On this day, as priests drew water from the Pool of Siloam to ask God for rain, Yeshua (Jesus) stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). His words reframed the ceremony, pointing beyond seasonal rain to the deeper refreshment of the Holy Spirit. Just as water was vital for the harvest, so too the Spirit sustains spiritual life. Yeshua’s declaration reveals yet another layer of how God’s appointed festivals anticipate Messiah’s work—each a living prophecy fulfilled in Him. As Sukkot winds down on Hoshana Rabbah, many recite a traditional prayer: “May it be that we merit to dwell in the sukkah made of Leviathan,” a poetic hope rooted in the belief that God will one day defeat evil and prepare a dwelling for the righteous.
This vision echoes Isaiah 27:1 and Revelation 21:3, where God promises to “tabernacle” with humanity forever. Zechariah 14:16 foretells that Sukkot will be celebrated by all nations in the age to come. What began as a desert reminder of God’s sheltering presence will culminate in the eternal reality of God dwelling with His people. As you reflect on Sukkot this week, may its message of joy, provision, and hope refresh your spirit and renew your faith in the God who still “tabernacles” with us. As is written in Revelation 21:3, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and He Himself, God-with-them, will be their God.”
