When God begins something in this present age of mankind, He nearly
always starts small. In Matthew 13:33 Jesus Christ compared God's Kingdom
to both a mustard seed and leaven. Both analogies start with something
small that expands into something much larger. Similarly, God called
only a relatively few people in Old Testament times who were willing
to follow His ways.
The biblical record shows that, early in the account spoken of in the
Bible, only a few people decided to obey God. However, early patriarchs
including Abel, Enoch and Noah did respond to the revelation of God's
plan of salvation (Matthew 23:35). After the great flood of Noah's time,
God found He could work with Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Of God's obedient
people of those times, Hebrews 11:13 says they "all died in faith" with
the sure knowledge that they would gain eternal life (verse 40).
We should note that the plan for providing eternal life was already
at work in the lives of these early people of God. The plan did not
start with a covenant God made with ancient Israel; nor did it start
with Jesus' earthly ministry.
God loved the world so much "that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life" (John 3:16). God's love in giving His Son continued His plan
of salvation from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8). The blueprint of the Holy Days would reveal in due time the plan
God had designed from the very beginning. These festival observances
were not just a cosmic afterthought.
