Get ready to celebrate the HEBREW NEW YEAR at sundown on March 19th. The first of the firstfruits is not a small matter… Time to put on praise to usher in God’s redemptive cycle and new beginnings!

God proclaimed to Moses in Ex. 12:2 that His Hebrew covenant calendar year was to begin with the month of Nisan:

“THIS month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

Nisan means “to take flight,” 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. The pattern of this month reveals a grace to move forward toward promise/goal/objective.

Nisan is associated with the tribe of Judah, whose name means “praise.” God called for “PRAISE” to go first into their “flight” from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land (Num. 10). Judah led then and later was the first tribe to cross the Jordan in the Promised Land and receive land (Num. 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 sacrificial Lamb FIRST, returning later to be the King of Kings. This month reminds us to start our day with a sacrifice of praise, and then, move out in the LORD’s authority as He leads.

The tribe of Judah was also responsible for making sure the “tablets of 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.

As the head of the tribe of Judah, Jesus was then responsible for multiplying God’s law. After His death and resurrection, He continued on with that responsibility by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to inscribe God’s law on the tablets of the hearts of believers. This gift has been tutoring Christians to walk in faith and obedience and helps us to multiply what God has written on our hearts.

Jacob’s son 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 Jacob’s sons who became jealous of their brother Joseph because of their father’s love and favoritism toward him.  After conferring, the brothers decided to throw Joseph in a pit to die.  But Judah assessed the situation and said, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” (Gen. 37:26).

Judah was wired to make a profit which isn’t inherently bad. But in this case, he suggested to sell Joseph, and made a bargain with the Midianite slave-traders to purchase his brother for twenty silver coins. As time went by, Judah became remorseful in profiting for selfish gain. Judah’s shame led him away from his family and down a path of bad choices and personal loss.

After a season of heartache, Judah came back to his family with a repentant heart. Not long afterwards, a famine crisis hit in the land, and Judah became instrumental in negotiating a deal to save his family. This deal was made at the expense of sacrificing his own life. Judah’s gift had gone through the “refiners fire,” and God used it to profit the whole family (Gen. 44:14-34).

Judas (Greek for Judah) Ischariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, had a similar weakness in his character.  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). The stronghold of greed was more powerful than family ties or intimate relationships once again. 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:

“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. But has this banking system been set up to honor the LORD to advance His kingdom? Monies can benefit the advancement of the Kingdom of God, especially in helping visions “take flight.” But left to selfish gain, greed and corruption are the driving force, and rulers come under God’s judgment. For you and I, it is key to start the year checking our heart motives concerning aspiring wealth. When God is FIRST, provision follows in many streams. But when money is our first motive, we lose wealth of our intimacy with the Lord, our soul becomes troubled like Judah, and streams dry up.

Starting with Nisan, we enter into the “spring season” with the Lord and step into “FIRSTS.” This season has a cyclical pattern for new beginnings; new seeds to plant, new alliances, and new battle plans released for this season.  Kings go to war, praise leads the way, and the authority of Judah begin the foundation. Coming out of the “winter” rest and revelation season guides and directs the movement of the Hebrew year beginnings.  Expect new doors to open up and the prompting of God to move you forward in new directions.

Finally, and probably most importantly, this month we celebrate God’s plan of redemption, revealed through the Feasts of the LORD, and fulfilled on earth FIRST through Jesus when He became our Sacrificial Lamb (Lev. 23; Mark 14:12). Gathering with fellow believers on 4/1 honors the LORD’s sacrifice through the celebration of Passover.

Three days later after Passover, the Feast of Firstfruits is celebrated, which is known in our Christian culture as Resurrection Day, or Easter. This year, Feast of Firstfruits falls on the same day as Easter, so Christians will stumble into the timetable of God’s “Holy Day” to celebrate Jesus overcoming death and presenting Himself to the Father FIRST:

“But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1 Cor. 15:23).

Let us all remember this month that PRAISE FIRST ushers “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” PRAISE HIM in the midst of the chaos! 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 Hebrew New Year!