Where do God’s Festivals first show up in the Bible? Surprisingly, on page one of Genesis, at the center of the seven days of creation. Day Four becomes the epicenter of God’s light of Day One, and what is placed at the midpoint signifies the heart and points to the conclusion, the Sabbath.

Day One ———-> Day Four ———-> Day Seven

Days one and four and seven mark time: day and night, months, years and Holydays, and the week. The sequence of 1-4-7 becomes an important sign later.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” Gen. 1:14-15 NIV

Three important words:
Lights: ma-owr (s), מְאֹר, meh-o-raw, me-o-rot (p) מְאֹרֹת (root of menorah)
Contextual meaning: a bright, luminous body necessary for order1

Signs: owth (s), אוֹת, o-tot (p), אֹתֹת
Contextual meaning: a signal of something as evidence of moving toward a mark1

Seasons: mow-ed, מוֹעָדָ, mo-aw-daw (s), mow-a-dim (p) מוֹעֲדִים
Contextual meaning: an appointed time, place, meeting; sacred feast, to see the door of the tent/tabernacle at the set repeated times1

Takeaway:
The Festivals of Light are the center of God’s focus in the creation week. He set them in motion before He created humans. The heavenly lights serve as signs to mark the appointed time of His Feasts that move toward the Sabbath reality.