From the very beginning of Scripture, God ordered time itself. In Genesis 1:14, we are told that the lights in the heavens were placed there “for signs and for seasons.” In the modern English sense, we often think of seasons as spring, summer, fall, and winter. But the biblical idea goes deeper. These are appointed times—moments set apart by God Himself.

Throughout the Scriptures we see that God invites His people to meet with Him at these specific times. They are not random observances created by human tradition, but moments established by the Creator when He calls His people into His presence.

One of those appointed times occurs on the 15th day of the first month, known as the First Day of Unleavened Bread. This day commemorates the moment when Israel departed from Egypt and began their journey toward freedom.

In Exodus 12, we are told something remarkable: 

[Exo 12:40-41 NKJV] Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years--on that very same day--it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

The departure from Egypt happened “at the end of 430 years, to the very day.” This detail suggests that the day itself was already significant in God’s timetable long before the Exodus story unfolded. At the time of that earlier starting point, it could not yet have been called “the First Day of Unleavened Bread,” since the Passover events had not yet taken place. Yet the timing was precise: “to the very day.”

Scripture later lists these appointed times more fully, but the careful wording in Exodus reminds us that God’s calendar is not an afterthought. The Creator who set the sun and moon in place also set moments in time when He would act and when His people would gather before Him. 

To learn more about this, and other, appointed times drawn from the Bible, request the free study guide entitled “God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind” available on the United Church of God website. And look for a congregation near you. We’d be honored if you joined us to worship God on His appointed time!

By Lynn Leiby