HEBREW WORD: MO’ED

(Appointed Time)

מוֹעֵד  Mo’ed H4150. Spelled Mem, Yod, Ayin, Dalet. 

From the root H3259 יָעַד yaw-ad'. Spelled Yod, Ayin, Dalet which means to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial), to direct (in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for marriage): - agree, (make an) appoint (-ment, a time), assemble (selves), betroth, gather (selves, together), meet (together), set (a time).

 I want you to notice something about the definition of the root ya’ad – specifically keep in mind its tie to a marriage proposal or betrothal. More on that in a bit. 

 The first time this word mo’ed shows up is in Genesis 1:14:

 "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs, and for mo’ed, and for days, and years" (Genesis 1:14)

 Mo’ed gets translated as “seasons” and we in modern times assume that means the typical four seasons of the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. But NO!

Mo'ed are appointed times that God has set up specifically for us to seek Him in greater levels of closeness.

 What this tells us is that the Holy One had Revival on His mind at the Creation! Even before mankind was created! 

 "He appointed the moon for mo’ed: the sun knows his going down”. (Psalm 104:19)

 These times have always been known to Israel as times of renewal and revival. 

 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed mo’ed, the appointed mo’ed of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Leviticus 23:2

Genesis 1 is the first mention of these appointed times and it is later that we learn what they are: 

 Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles. There are seven appointed times or mo’ed of God.

Passover is about our redemption, the life of the Lamb passing us from death to life. Unleavened Bread speaks of a clean and pure life through removing the leaven from our homes and lives. First Fruits shows us how we are made new—the first fruits of men before God. The Feast of Weeks comes after the count of seven sabbaths after First Fruits with a day of Proclamation of Who our God is and who we are with Him. Trumpets foreshadows our resurrection and transformation from mortal to immortal. Atonements shows us God’s Day of Reconciliation with the whole world and when we are truly made one with Him. Tabernacles speaks of the joy we receive when God comes to dwell with us in His Kingdom.

Remember the root word meaning above having to do with a marriage proposition or betrothal? Consider the intimacy inherent in that. Consider the life-altering aspect of joining in a covenant celebration with the King, who desires to spend time with you. Consider the magnitude of the honor that you are invited to such events as these. 

This makes me think of that oft mistranslated verse in Genesis 3:8 which highlights another special appointment with the Holy One. This appointed time occurs right after Adam and Chava sin:

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden."

King James says 'in the cool of the day.' But in Hebrew it says l’ruach ha-yom, which can be rendered as  - ‘the time appointed for breathing.' Ruach can mean breath, or spirit (think of Ruach haCodesh or Holy Spirit). 

You are not alone if you recognize that you are in desperate need of the breath of God. Offered to us always, His Breath is particularly offered at His appointed times – His mo’ed. 

The first man and woman were in desperate need of the Breath of the Holy One after they had just sinned. You and I are not really any different. 

Breathe, Spirit of God!