Exodus 23:15, commentary and pictures

The verse commands the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread in the appointed time of the month Abib as a memorial that by His power God brought His people out of bondage in Egypt into freedom, to be kept at its set season as one of three annual assemblies for worship before the Lord. It requires that none come before Him empty-handed but bring gifts, freewill offerings, thank-offerings and first fruits of His bounty. Both rich and poor are to give in proportion to what each has received, with the size of the offering showing gratitude for God's mercies and revealing character and heart. This instruction was given by Christ Himself as Teacher on Sinai, is not an inferior code but shows the exalted character of His requirements, and must still be studied, obeyed from the heart, practiced and presented just as truly now. The feasts and sacrifices pointed to Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, were meant to keep faith, love and gratitude alive and preserve from worldliness and idolatry, and show God's value on His people gathering together, calling them in the last days to come together to advance His cause with grateful offerings.

Feast Time and Assembly

This instruction was given to Moses on the mount as part of Exodus 19-24, written in a book to guard against doing injustice and to guide dealings with one another. Christ Himself was the Teacher who gave these directions on Mount Sinai, and spoke them in human flesh. They are not a Christless or inferior code, but show God's care for His people and the exalted character of His requirements, which are unchanging. They must still be studied, obeyed from the heart, practiced, and presented before the people just as truly as in Moses's day.

Obedience to the whole of these commandments is the condition on which God promises to make His people kings and priests unto Himself. It is the condition for keeping open communication between Himself and them, and for giving strength of character under every temptation. Israel with uplifted voice and hands professed to comply with these conditions, yet under temptation while Moses was away broke them by making the calf. Only those who took their position loyally on Moses's side were spared, showing that God tests His people by His Word and requires steadfast loyalty and righteousness worked out in character.

The verse commands keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread, eating unleavened bread seven days in the time appointed of the month Abib, because in it Israel came out of Egypt. It is one of Israel's appointed annual gatherings, to be kept at its set time. It is to be kept as a memorial and remembrance of deliverance, that by His power God brought the people from servile bondage to freedom.

The verse belongs to the directions for three annual assemblies for worship at the sanctuary in the place He would choose, where the tribes and the men were to assemble before the Lord. The gathering place was for a time at Shiloh, and Jerusalem later became the center of worship where the tribes met for the solemn feasts. Though fathers and sons were required to attend, families came whenever possible. The whole community shared in it, including manservant and maidservant, strangers, Levites, the poor, orphans, and widows, with hospitality extended to them.

The set seasons were holy convocations for worship, education, and social fellowship. Unnecessary work was set aside to remember blessings, rejoice, consider God's mercies and wonderful works, gain better knowledge of spiritual service, and receive light. These regulations were given for Israel's good and spiritual benefit, not as arbitrary commands.

Gifts Before God

None were to appear before God empty-handed, but to come with gifts, freewill offerings, thank-offerings and trespass offerings, together with tithes, sin-offerings, offerings of gratitude, consecrated gifts, and the first fruits of His bounty. The requirement bound rich and poor alike in proportion to what each had received, calling for economy and self-denial. Poverty excused no one who could give something, and when sickness or misfortune made giving impossible, those with means were to help the needy bring even a humble offering.

Offerings were to express gratitude and appreciation for God's continual mercies, every one according as the Lord had blessed him. Their size revealed how highly donors valued those blessings and plainly showed character and heart. Those who highly valued God's blessings brought accordingly, while those benumbed by selfishness and love of favors rather than love for the Benefactor brought meager offerings.

Faithful observance was connected with the covenant promise that He would bless them in all their increase and in all the works of their hands. The command means holidays are to bring glory to God's name and not divert the mind from Him, for all things belong to God. Those blessed with prosperity should acknowledge Him as Giver, knowing where much is given much will be required, instead of perverting holidays by lavishing gifts on one another and giving to poor mortals the praise due to God.

Purpose and Present Call

The feasts and sacrifices appointed in the verse testified to the living God and pointed forward to the coming Saviour who would possess the kingdoms forever. Their united sacrificial service pointed to Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The annual holy convocations gathered the people for worship, for bringing offerings, for remembering God's mercies, and for joining in those sacrifices that pointed to Christ.

Those gatherings kept faith and love and gratitude alive and drew the people closer to God and to one another. They preserved them from the corrupting power of worldliness and idolatry, and turned them away from worldly cares to commune with God and contemplate unseen realities. God saw this withdrawal from ordinary life as necessary for their spiritual life, even though for those living far from the tabernacle attendance cost more than a month each year. Kept as intended in the spirit of true worship, with vast multitudes from all lands attending as in the days of Christ, they were meant to give the light of truth to all nations.

These assemblies were meant to keep God in the people's minds as memorials, but that purpose was largely forgotten by the priests and leaders. The benefit Israel needed from these convocations proves a much greater need for such gatherings in the last days of peril and conflict and for giving the world the light committed to the church. The pattern shows that God values His people gathering together, and it is applied as a reason to attend camp-meeting.

That yearly gathering is not now laid on believers as a stated duty, but God still calls them to come together to advance and honor His cause. Those able to give should come to the camp-meeting with freewill offerings, showing gratitude to God for the blessings He has given rather than appearing before Him empty-handed.