Yesterday evening marked the first day of the first biblical new month (Rosh chodesh) known as the month of “Nissan”, which is a name borrowed from the Akkadian language meaning “first fruits” and later adapted in the Hebrew language for “miracle.”
Paul describes the significance of this in 1Cor.15:20-25: “ But in fact fChrist has been raised from the dead, gthe firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as hby a man came death, iby a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For jas in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then kat his coming lthose who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers mthe kingdom to God the Father after destroying nevery rule and every authority and power 25 For he must reign ountil he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
So contained within the name of Nissan, the promise of salvation progressively unfolds as marked by Pesach, Unleavened Bread and the feast of First Fruits that were all prophetically fulfilled perfectly through Yeshua!
Nissan is first mentioned in Ex.12:1-2 and the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 1:1) describes 1st Nisan as one of 4 New Years in the Hebrew calendar.
The Bible refers to this month as “Aviv” the Hebrew word for “Spring” the month of Passover (Deut.16:1). It begins with the first New Moon after the barley in Israel reaches the stage in its ripeness called “Aviv”. The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 lunar months. Because of this, it was important to check the state of the Barley crops at the end of the 12th month. If the barley was Aviv at the time, then the following New Moon would be Hodesh Ha-Aviv (“New Moon of the Aviv”). If the barley was still immature, they waited another month and then checked the barley again at the end of the 13th month. This is the case with the current year we are in which is a leap year with the insertion of a 13th month just past known as ADAR II.
It is in this season in Israel that almond tree blossoms at the end of winter and the hills are covered with beautiful pinkish white flowers. And as I have shared before, it has five petals that remind us of God’s grace and the white blossoms symbolise the white hair of old age of a righteous person, a crown of glory. The blossoming of the almond tree is also prophetic of the full and complete awaited restoration of the Jewish people. From the barrenness of winter arises the fragrance and beauty of new life.
It is also associated with one of the earliest prophecies from Jer.1:11-12: “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to perform My word.’”
This prophecy uses a play on words that conveys an important message. The Hebrew word for almond, “shaked” can also be translated “to watch”. By seeing the almond branch, God assured Jeremiah that He is watching over His word to fulfil it. There is great significance in these things which we will talk more about next week, but now let’s worship God as we rejoice in His salv.
PART 2
Last week we were reminded that each year at Pesach, God will bring us into the fullness of our redemption at exactly the appointed time. We also referred to the almond trees in Israel with their beautiful pinkish white blossoms and how prophetically they speak to us of the coming of the Yeshua as a Bridegroom for His bride. There is an ancient town in Israel called Luz famous for its hills that are covered with almond trees in this spring season, that also remindi us of the ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ which God has prepared for those who love Him.
And with the fragrance of the almond blossoms, Scripture reminds us that we are described in a similar way to the almond tree’s blossoms as we permeate the beautiful scent that pervades the life of a true believer to those whose lives we connect with: “But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost…” (2Cor. 2: 14-16)
And in our prayers, we continue to intercede for the Jewish people who as a nation have yet to catch the scent.
But in these end times, we are seeing the signs of a 2nd Exodus before our very eyes as we see Jewish people in increasing numbers returning to their Homeland. Some are coming on their own volition, but many are returning as refugees, and this will only increase exponentially the nearer we get to the return of Yeshua as they return to Eretz Israel spurred on by persecution throughout the 4 corners of the earth. God is drawing His people home as Scripture prophesies: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.” (Jer 16:16)
In these end times, amid unprecedented events taking place in the world arena, we are seeing all the jigsaw pieces moving into place at breath-taking speed. God is in full control and has invited us to partner with Him as participators! Our confidence is grounded in the truth that God is faithful to His covenant promises and nothing can interfere with His eternal purposes. If ever there was any Pesach celebrated, where God is reminding His bride to recognise His soon return, it is now!
SHABBAT HA GADOL AND SHEEP
This Shabbat is a very special one known as “Shabbat Ha Gadol” (The Great Sabbath) that immediately precedes Pesach.
One of the traditional reasons for the name (Shabbat Hagadol) is that the 10th of Nisan of the year of the Exodus was a Shabbat. It was on that day that, as recorded in Ex.12, that the Lord called upon the Israelites to take a sheep to their homes and keep it there until the 14th of Nisan and then slaughter it to prepare it for the Passover sacrifice. This act of taking the sheep for the enslaved Israelites took immense faith for it was effectively a great act of defiance because the Egyptians worshiped sheep as their God. So, the timid Hebrew slaves were commanded to take the sheep in defiance of their slave masters, and of the entire theology of Egypt, and slaughter it before the Egyptians’ eyes. Therefore, this Shabbat is called “Shabbat Hagadol” because it was on this Shabbat that the Israelites expressed defiance and declared their independence.
On this Shabbat, the special Haftarah reading from the prophet Malachi is read. Mal.i 4:5 reads: “Behold I send to you Elijah the Prophet, before the great and awesome day of God.” What does this verse refer to? It is speaking of the great day of redemption and the coming of the Messiah that was fulfilled in God’s perfect timing through Yeshua.
At His crucifixion, Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, “It is finished!” His work was completed as at the end of the 6th day of Creation. Yeshua entered the realm of the Great Sabbath Rest, as He had done on the 7th day of Creation. But now, a full cycle had now turned; the price for man’s sin was paid. In a very profound sense, we see that the prophetic fulfilment of ‘Shabbat Ha Gadol’ was also found in Him.
But there is additionally a future “great and awesome day of God” awaiting when Yeshua, who first came as the Lamb of God slain for our sins, will return a second time and on this occasion, it will be as the Lion of Judah and Conquering King to judge the world in righteousness and justice.
Raphael ben Levi
