Throughout the year, certain festivals are to guide the life of Israel, many of the festivals are offered as reminders of the work of God to redeem and save Israel. Leviticus 23 outlines these varied festivals.
First, Israel is called to maintain the Sabbath, the seventh day is a day reserved for the Lord. Following this pronouncement, Israel is reminded to maintain the Passover, a remembrance of the Exodus story. Immediately following Passover, Israel moves into the Festival of Weeks which mirrors the experience at Sinai as well as the entrance into the Promised Land. The offering of first fruits is a reminder to Israel that God has blessed them and that in return, God calls Israel to provide its first fruits.
The Day of Atonement has already been proclaimed but here it is put in the list with the other festivals. Finally, the Festival of Booths is a harvest festival which also reminds Israel of the time they spent living in temporary structures in their journey through the Wilderness.
Acts 12
While the message of Christ is spreading, it is meeting resistance wherever it goes. The 12th chapter is a reminder of the danger that is inherent in the world. We are told that James, the brother of John, is put to death by the sword and Herod, the grandson of Herod the Great, flexes his muscle and has Peter arrested. The plan, most likely, was to put Peter on trial. God has other plans however.
God frees Peter from jail and leads him to safety. In a scene reminiscent of Jesus first post-resurrection appearance, the disciples fail to truly believe that Peter is free. Finally, they are convinced and Peter tells the full story.
The chapter ends with the death of Herod and contrasts how God saves Peter but condemns Herod to death.
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