Our next firstfruits is September 29th, celebrating the seventh month of the Hebrew covenant Calendar known as Tishrei.  This Firstfruits marks the beginning of the fall harvest season as well as the Fall Feasts.

Tishrei is a month of joyful celebration!  This month is associated with the tribe of Ephraim, who’s name means “fruitful” or “multiply.”  Ephraim was Joseph’s son who Jacob grafted into the family inheritance.  Because Joseph’s trials brought him through a difficult pathway, yet produced many blessings (becoming governor of Egypt, reunited with his family, and saving them from the famine), Joseph named his son Ephraim.

“For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Gen. 42:52). 

God’s heart and purpose in creating man is known in Gen. 1:28, which bears witness to Ephraim’s name:

“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

It is interesting that this declaration was given first to Adam, and it continues to bear fruit thousands of years later.  Jewish historians and Rabbi’s declare that the first of Tishrei is said to be the anniversary of creation and the birthday of Adam.  It is also believed by biblical scholars that Jesus was born this month as well.  Creation, the “Adamic” race, and JESUS continue to be fruitful and multiply.

Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim, and was one of the greatest military leaders of the bible.  He conquered ALL the kings in the Promised Land, and under his leadership, the children of Israel were fruitful and blessed.

Joshua encourages us even today as believers about how to be fruitful as he speaks to the Israelites to obey the Lord:

 ^“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14,15).

Tishrei Firstfruits is unique as it is also intersects with the Feast called the “Feast of Trumpets.”  The shofar is first blown to acknowledge the new moon and signaling the time to give the Lord a Firstfruits offering.  Firstfruits reminds us of Jehovah Jireh – the Lord who Provides,  remembering the story of how God provided a ram to sacrifice on the altar instead of Abraham’s son, Isaac:

“Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.  And Abraham called the name of the place, ‘The-Lord-Will-Provide,’ as it is said to this day, “In the Moutn of the Lord it shall be provided” (Gen. 22:13,14).

The trumpet is blown next to signify the “Feast of Trumpets,” which is also known as “Day of Awakening blasts.”  This trumpet blast is a rehearsal to the body of Christ to awaken and to be ready, for the King of kings is coming.  It also signifies as a reminder that one day, when Christ returns, the Millennium will begin with the sound of the trumpet, and the transformation of the remnant to reign with Christ will commence.

” Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51,52).

I asked my friend Athena, to paint a picture of the heart of this month.  This is what she said about the inspiration of her painting:

“This watercolor painting was truly a “labor” of love.  A JOY of co-creating with Him in surrender and trust. It represents a birthing of joy in our souls as we blindly walk in obedience to our Father’s call to come with Him to the places unknown . . . to the abundant places He prepared for us before the foundations of the world. We follow His patterns holding onto the hope we have only in Him truly internalizing that “The Joy of The Lord is Our Strength”.

We dance! We sing! We celebrate what has been, what is and what will be in His will.  We blindly walk in faith worshiping our Lord for “the joy that is set before us”. (Hebrews 12:2) 

We are “flourishing” in the Father’s hands no matter what we walk through with Him.  We rejoice and celebrate in the hope that He is doing immeasurably more than all we ask think or imagine for His Glory.

 As you reflect on this painting entitled “Joy Immeasurable”, let the these scriptures sink deep in your soul and spirit bouncing up through your heart with hands lifted high in praise and gratefulness to our Heavenly Father . . . King of all creation:

“O my strength, I sing with joy your praises. O my stronghold, I sing with joy your song! O my Savior, I sing with joy the lyrics of your faithful love for me!” (Psalms‬ ‭59:17‬ ‭TPT‬‬)

“God’s glory is all around me! His wrap-around presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength” (Psalm 62:7 TPT).

“But as for me, your strength shall be my song of joy. At each and every sunrise, my lyrics of your love will fill the air! For you have been my glory-fortress, a stronghold in my day of distress.” (Psalms‬ ‭59:16‬ ‭TPT‬‬)”

I love how Athena captured the heart of this month: JOY AND CELEBRATION! Praying you take time to Feast with Him!