Get ready to celebrate the NEW YEAR, starting April 1st!

God proclaimed to Moses in Ex. 12:2 that His Hebrew calendar year was to begin with the month of Nisan. Nisan means “to take flight,” so it was appropriately named since this was the month the children of Israel took flight from the captivity of Egypt and journeyed through the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai.

Nisan is associated with the tribe of Judah. Judah means “praise.” God called for “PRAISE” to go first into their “flight” from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land (Numbers 10). When the trumpet was blown twice, signifying it was time for all the tribes camped around the Ark of the Covenant to journey on, Judah was given the leadership position of moving out first.  Judah was also the first tribe to cross the Jordan, and first to be allotted land in the Promised Land (Numbers 14.) This month is known for FIRSTS!

In Genesis 49:10, we read the prophetic destiny that Jacob spoke concerning the tribe of Judah in the latter days.  “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” 

Judah was destined to carry the Messianic ruler ship (scepter), which we can see documented in Matthew 1 that traces the lineage of Judah.  Jesus was born out of this tribe when he came to earth to be our Savior, and He will return as our King of Kings. This month is significant to His “kingship” and stepping forward under His command to take “dominion.”

Judah was also responsible for making sure the “tablets of covenant/testimony” were safely passed down from generation to generation until Jesus came.  The “Torah (first 5 books of the bible) was canonized during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah during the 7th year of King Artaxerxes.  Ezra and Nehemiah were both a part of the House of Judah. When Jesus died and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the law was then written on all of our hearts.  This is when the obedience of the people then became unto HIM (Jesus the King).

Judah had a notable flaw in his character that was difficult to overcome; the love of money.  In Genesis 37, we read the story of how Judah and his brothers decided to kill Joseph because they were jealous of their Father’s love and favoritism toward him.  After conferring, they decided to throw him in a pit to die.  But Judah later assessed the situation and said, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” (Gen. 37:26).

Judah’s first interest was in making a profit!  He suggested to sell Joseph, and made a bargain with the Midianite traders who agreed to purchase him for twenty silver coins.  As time went by, the guilt weighed on Judah over the years, and his repentant heart made him respond differently to his brother in need. This time, instead of bargaining for profit, Judah pleas with Joseph for his brother Benjamin, offering to sacrifice his own life (Gen. 44:14-34).

Judas (Greek for Judah) Ischariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, also had this same weakness in his character that caused him to break God’s Commandments.  The Bible reveals his greedy heart in John 12:5 when Judas cannot understand why Mary poured costly fragrant oil on Jesus instead of selling the oil and giving it to the poor.  The scriptures go on to say in verse 6, “This he (Judas) said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box, and he used to take what was put in it.”

It wasn’t too long until we read about Judas betraying Jesus by making a bargain with the religious leaders for 30 silver coins (Mark 14:10,11). In both cases, the stronghold of the need for wealth was more powerful than family ties or intimate relationships. Judas, however, ends up taking his own life because of the guilt he bore in betraying Jesus.  

Jesus tells us how difficult the struggle is for those who have a gift to profit once they have accumulated wealth for self-gain. “Assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:23,24). 

Looking around the financial world today, many Jews are the world’s top financiers and control many of the banks, including the Federal Reserve. Left to selfish gain, they have been used to set up a world money system that is corrupt and never satisfied.  But when Judah can submit to God’s headship, their gift can benefit the advancement of the Kingdom of God, especially in helping visions “take flight.”

There were three tribes, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, who were positioned around the Tabernacle on the east side to form a branch.  Judah’s banner of the lion represented this branch, and it was these tribes who worked together to move the whole army out when the Lord’s cloud by day and pillar of fire moved.  Judah was chosen to “sound the alarm!”

Starting with Nisan, we enter into the “spring season” with the Lord. This season has a pattern for new beginnings; new seeds to plant, new alliances, and new battles arise during this season.  Kings go to war, praise leads the way, and the authority of Judah sets the foundation. Coming out of the “winter” rest and revelation season guides and directs the movement of the Hebrew year beginnings.  Also, coming full circle in the “winter” season lends itself to the new doors opening up.

This month also honors God’s redemption plan as we celebrate and remember the Spring Feasts of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev.23).  All of these Feasts were a blueprint of how Jesus would fulfill God’s Covenant promises of redemption and reconciliation.  As we read the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled these Feasts completely through His death and resurrection (Luke 23,24).  Fifty days later, He fulfilled the final Spring Feast, Pentecost, when He sent the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  

When Jesus rose from the dead, He presented Himself as the “FIRSTFRUITS” offering unto the Father in heaven.  Judah goes FIRST as Son of Man, and Son of God!  In doing so, Jesus made a way for heaven to come to earth in Holiness, and for a people (harvest) to be presented to the Father after He returns.  Thankfully, He sent the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His return (2 Cor. 1:22).

God gave us a key this month to individual intimate relationship with the Lord: REPENTANCE.Humbling ourselves under the Lord of Hosts (the one who rules over the armies of heaven and earth) connects and keeps us under HIS COVERING!  Jesus will come back as judge, conqueror, and king to fulfill the Fall Feasts through His second coming.

Through some of the Israelite Kings, such as Jehoshaphat, we can see the power of repentance and humility. Jehoshaphat understood complete dependence on seeking the Lord for His leadership. The minute he turned to the Lord, God gave him strategy, strength, and victory.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about Jehoshaphat’s humility as he seeks the Lord when the odds were up against his army. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chron. 20:3).

God gave Jehoshaphat a strategy of winning the war through praise.  Jehoshaphat asked the worshippers to go before His army, and this opened heaven to help him overcome in time of need.“Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated (2 Chron. 20:22).

The landscape of seeing the kingdom of heaven here on the earth will shift ahead through the praises of God’s people.

This month, above all else, God wants us to praise Him.  PRAISE HIM as you take flight! PRAISE HIM as you go into battle! PRAISE HIM because you have been CHOSEN to rule and reign in Him! PRAISE HIM for “FIRSTS!”  Your praise will spring you forward into the New Year! 

Firstfruits begins at sundown on March 3rd, which will be the second month of ADAR. Having a second ADAR happens every few years, similar to a “leap year” in the Gregorian calendar, for the purpose of keeping the correct alignment of the months in accordance with the seasons of harvest time to offer the LORD His “firstfruits.”  

Because the second ADAR is added, this Hebrew Covenant Calendar has 13 months instead of 12. An interesting side note to share is that when you study the tribes of Israel, Manasseh is known as the 13th tribe, and America lines up with Manasseh’s prophetic destiny spoken through Jacob and Moses for the “latter days.” (Gen. 49:22-26; Deut.33:13-17). I believe America will wrestle, and be challenged where she gets her strength this month: Trusting in God, or the systems and power of men. The remnant will probably find themselves on their knees asking for God’s intervention and wisdom.

I believe when there are two ADARS in the year, God’s people need that extra month to prepare for a significant New Year up ahead.  Sometimes, the extra month of “wrestling the Lord” for His Holy exchange “cracks the code” to our stubbornness or inability to break through our challenges.  But for sure, the exchange inevitably has us dealing with our heart issues that prevent us from entering into the LORD’s rest and reward. As we let go and slump over in humility, the LORD gives us the deliverance and breakthrough needed for the landscape ahead.

Since ADAR means “strength,” the LORD’s double portion of His message is made clear to us: it is not by our own strength that we head into the New Year, but by His Spirit leading us in the way we should go. Patience to wait on Him and hear His instruction is key.

The story of Esther gives us a picture of ADAR II. Esther was chosen to be Queen after a long year process of preparation. The King loved Esther more than all other women, and she obtained favor in his sight. But Esther had not revealed her family identity because her cousin Mordecei instructed Esther to keep it hidden. Esther and Mordecei came from the tribe of Benjamin of the House of Judah.

It wasn’t long after Esther was crowned Queen that the King promoted a man named Haman to be above all the princes.  His arrogant pride and need for power propelled his vanity to desire all people to pay homage to him and bow.  But Mordecei didn’t, and the assassination plan began against all of Mordecei’s family known as the Jews.

Haman had carefully plotted to devise a plan to kill all the Jews without knowing he was essentially asking the King to sign off on killing his own wife as well.  Esther found out about the edict, and decided to fast and pray.  It was during the fast that God gave Esther the wisdom on how to expose Haman and to stop his assignment.

Three important things came forth from this month of Adar for Esther.  First, Esther had to “surrender all!”  Her purpose for the Lord putting her in a position of power to save the people had to be more important than even her own life.  And it was a risk she took to trust the Lord in it.  It was through her fast that she found the power to do so. But it was her Uncle’s words, “For such a time as this” that moved her into action.  We are called for such a time as this to step into our destiny.  Fasting will help us understand the wisdom of God for the New Year.

Secondly, Esther’s true identity was revealed through the process of her “wrestling with God” for breakthrough.   Once that identity came to light, Esther stepped into a new level of authority and power.

Finally, because of Esther’s obedience, the Lord “cut off” the assignment to kill the Jews and instead, reversed the curse on Haman himself! 

God wants to kill off our Haman!  Each one of us has a gift that God has given us to bring forth His light and glory for the earth to see.  This is our purpose and the very uniqueness of who God made us to be.  But Satan wants to come and steal, kill, and destroy that purposed gift in us.  God wants to give us His wisdom on how to defeat the enemy whose assignment prevents us from entering into the fullness of our destiny. God wants to “cut off” anything that holds us back.  This is the month to fast and pray and seek His face for wisdom and strategy.  

We must know who our enemy is, and what He has written as an edict to stop us from living for the Lord.  Then we can recognize his moves and watch God annihilate the assignment, as we trust in Him.

This month the Hebrew calendar recognizes the three days Esther fasted, and Purim which is the celebration of the “overturn” and victory that came forth. The Lord wrote in the Book of Esther that Purim should not fail to be observed, and that the memory should not perish. We, who are adopted into the Hebrew heritage, should take time to remember the victory that Purim represents as well and the power of God’s delivering hand over the enemy. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yes, He is the one who triumphs over evil.

I pray you come out of this month FREE to move ahead into the New Year with a remnant of believers who are also preserved for such a time as this.