Numbers 29: Before we feast, we fast! Before we celebrate we repent!

"Gather for worship on the tenth day of the seventh month; eat no food and do no work." — Numbers 29:7 GNT

Good morning, good morning! ☀️ Today, I went down a deep rabbit hole (again) on biblical festivals. Let me tell you, I do not have these memorized like the Israelites did—where they were basically like, “Oh yeah, it’s that time of year again!” Meanwhile, I’m over here with three commentaries and five tabs open. 😆

I wanted to truly understand, Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement, Israel’s national day of fasting. And wow, this one got me thinking..."On this day, the Israelites fasted and did no work." This had nothing to do with rules (It was a Holiday friend)—it was about reliance. In giving up food and productivity, they were making a powerful statement: We don’t live by bread alone. We live by God’s grace.

And then I stumbled on this: “This contrast between fasting (Atonement) and feasting (other festivals) reminds us that before true joy and celebration, there must first be repentance and then we can enjoy reconciliation with God.”

Whoa. Before the feasting, there was fasting. Before joy, repentance. There’s an order to it—one that makes the joy even richer. This got me thinking about the practice of remembering even more. Sabbath isn’t just about taking a break—it’s a rhythm of trust. And fasting? It’s not about willpower; it’s about worship. Both invite us to step away from what we think sustains us and remind us who truly does.

Overwhelming? Sometimes. Worth it? Absolutely. Because in slowing down, in pausing to repent, in choosing to depend on Him instead of ourselves—we make space for something far greater: God’s presence and provision.

What would it look like to embrace the rhythm of fasting, feasting, and Sabbath today? Seriously thought, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to remember, reset, and receive?

Maybe it’s as simple as pausing in gratitude, taking a breath, or even (gasp) closing the laptop for a bit. 😉