NISAN:
Month 1 | Nisan: Redemption with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
- Prayer Request
- Praise Report
Focus: Miracles, Redemption
Letter: Hei (ה)
Tribe: Judah
Sense: Speech
It is in this month that we celebrate the eight-day holiday of Passover, from the 15th through the 22nd of Nisan. It commemorates the Jewish people’s miraculous redemption from slavery in Egypt, and the birth of the Jewish nation.
Seven weeks—49 days—elapsed between the Jewish people’s departure from Egypt and the giving of the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai (celebrated on Shavuot/ Pentecost). The rabbis explained that the 49 days that connect Passover with Shavuot correspond to the 49 drives and traits of the human heart. Each day saw the refinement of one of these character traits, bringing the people of Israel one step closer to spiritual transformation. We retrace this inner journey each year with our “counting of the Omer.” Beginning on the second night of Passover, we count the days and weeks to the holiday of Shavuot, the “Festival of Weeks.”
We count 49 days, then the Torah is given on the 50th day because 50 is the number of freedom. Israel had fallen to the 49th level of spiritual impurity according to Jewish tradition, and needed to be redeemed.
Over those 49 days, God was purifying, preparing, and freeing the people from past negative influences of Egypt to be ready to receive the Torah. In the same way, Jesus was doing the same thing with the Disciples over the 49 days from Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost to prepare them to receive the Holy Spirit on the same day in biblical history.
One year after the Exodus, on each of the first 12 days of this month, the 12 princes of Israel brought offerings to inaugurate the Mishkan/Tabernacle.
Major Jewish and Biblical Events in History in Nisan:
01 Nisan:
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- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were born and passed away in the month of Nisan (per Talmud)
- Tabernacle inaugurated
- Jewish Calendar Inaugurated (1313 BCE)
- Death of Nadab and Abihu
07 Nisan: Israelites Prepare to Enter Canaan
10 Nisan:
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- Miriam’s passing
- Israelites Crossed the Jordan
13 Nisan: Haman’s Decree (357 BC)
14 Nisan: Pesach – original Seder meal
15 Nisan:
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- Begin Omer Count
- Covenant Between the Parts (Gen 15)
- Abraham Battled the Four Kings
- Isaac was Born
- Jacob Wrestled with Angel
- Moses at the Burning Bush
- The EXODUS began
- Queen Vashti Executed
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Nisan:
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- Sodom Overturned
- Manna Ended
- Levi Born
21 Nisan:
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- Moses assumed the mission of taking the Children of Israel out of Egypt
- Red Sea Parted
- Moses Errantly Struck the Rock
28 Nisan: Jericho’s Wall Collapses (1273 BC)
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Tishrei: The Month of Renewal in the Hebrew Calendar
God renews creation. Tishrei’s festivals all focus on the person praying, waiting, and relying upon the Lord. Consequently, this month’s other name (Ethanim meaning “strong”) makes perfect sense, as “they who wait for Adonai will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Elul: The Month of Repentance, Returning, and Spiritual Intimacy in the Hebrew Calendar
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), the Jewish people sound the shofar (ram’s horn) as a call to repentance. The Jewish people teach that the “King is in the Field” during Elul—God is readily accessible, willing to hear our requests and listen to our fervent prayers for the coming new year.
Kislev: The Month of Trust and Dedication in the Hebrew Calendar
Kislev is often playfully re-written as Kis-Lev (Purse of the Heart). Kislev is a time to examine what is in our hearts. It’s also time to fill them with reminders of the goodness of God. These concepts are most evident during the holiday that falls during this month: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.