Iyar The Issachar Month, the month of Transition 30 th April 2017
A crucial month Second month after Nisan... a month of transition from Passover to Pentecost. Issachar was the 9 th son of Jacob, 5 th son of Leah. His name means he will bring a reward (Gen 30:18) according to his mother Leah s pronouncement when he was born.
Genesis 30:18 (NKJV) 18 Leah said, God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband. So she called his name Issachar. 创世记 30:18 (Simplified) (CNVS) 18 利亚说 : 神给了我酬报, 因为我把我的婢女给了我的丈夫 于是给孩子起名叫以萨迦
Jacob blessed Issachar by saying that he was a man of strength who would not hold back from hard work to establish a secure place to rest. (Gen 49: 14-15) Genesis 49:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens; 15 He saw that rest was good,and that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves. 创世记 49:14-15 (Simplified) (CNVS) 14 以萨迦是一头粗壮的驴, 伏卧在羊圈 ( 羊圈 原文意思不详, 或译 : 重驮 ) 之间 ; 15 他看安居为美, 他看肥地为佳, 他屈肩负重, 成了服苦的奴仆
Moses blessed Issachar and Zebulun together and that they would call peoples to the mountain to offer righteous sacrifices. They would also draw out the abundance of the sea and the hidden treasures of the sand (Deut 33:18-19)
Deuteronomy 33:18-19 (NKJV) 18 And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand. 申命记 33:18-19 (Simplified) (CNVS) 18 论到西布伦, 他说 : 西布伦啊, 你出外的时候, 要喜乐 ; 以萨迦啊, 你在帐棚里的时候, 也要喜乐 19 他们要把万民召到山上来, 在那里要献上公义的祭 ; 因为他们要吸取海洋的丰富, 沙土中埋藏着的宝藏 We find Issachar linked with prosperity, intercession & revelation
As Israel moved through the wilderness, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun are grouped together at the eastern side of the camp, being the leading tribes to march out first. Judah goes first Issachar comes next Zebulun follows with war and worship. with timing. with supply.
Characteristics of this month 1. A month of healing. God first revealed Himself as Healer!! Exo 15:26 God wants to heal especially our conscience and our soulish realm!! Iyar is associated with your conscience which is linked with your thought processes and emotions...(the conscience is the window or eye between your spirit and soul.)
Hence, this is the month to cleanse your conscience. Align the window of your conscience with the window of heaven so that you will not miss God s revelation. Deal with your soul your mind, will and emotions. Make sure they are in alignment with God.
2. A month to understand God's secrets. Iyar is the month of transition and God revealing His Covenant secrets... (Israel came out of Egypt during Nisan and they arrived at Sinai to receive the Torah on the 3 rd month.) This is not only a geographical transition, but also transitioning to a new level in their relationship with God. God began during this time to reveal His Covenant secrets to them.
When Israel came out of Egypt, they knew they were God s people but they did not know much about God. All they had were a few stories passed down through the generations about how God appeared to Abraham. They had no Bible.
They had lived as slaves in Egypt and knew about the Egyptian gods. They did not know much about the God who had rescued them from captivity. So God put them into His covenant school during their travels in the wilderness to teach them His nature.
He revealed to them as Yahweh Rapha God the Healer (healing bitter waters) Exodus 15:26 (NKJV) 26 and said, If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you. 出埃及 15:26 (Simplified) (CNVS) 26 耶和华又说 : 如果你留意听耶和华你神的声音, 行他眼中看为正的事, 侧耳听他的诫命, 遵守他的一切律例 ; 这样, 我决不把加在埃及人身上的一切疾病加在你们身上, 因为我是医治你的耶和华
In Exo 16:12, He revealed Himself as Yahweh Jaira the Lord who sees and provides (He provided manna in the mornings and quail in the evenings)
Exodus 16:12 (NKJV) 12 I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God. 出埃及 16:12 (Simplified) (CNVS) 12 以色列人的怨言, 我已经听见了 你告诉他们说 : 黄昏的时候你们必吃肉, 早晨的时候必有食物吃饱 ; 这样, 你们就知道我耶和华是你们的神了
In Exo 17:15 they learnt how to overcome the Amalekites by keeping Moses hands up. God revealed Himself as Yahweh Nissi the Lord, my Banner of Victory... Exodus 17:15-16 (NKJV) 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The- LORD-Is-My-Banner; [a] 16 for he said, Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. 出埃及 17:15-16 (Simplified) (CNVS) 15 摩西筑了一座祭坛, 给它起名叫 耶和华尼西 16 摩西又说 : 向耶和华的旌旗举手, 耶和华必世世代代和亚玛力人争战
So in Iyar, God revealed His Covenant secrets - He is our Healer - our Provider, - our banner of Victory over every enemy.
3. A month associated with Hebrew letter Vav. Vav was originally the picture of connecting pin. It means a 'linking or connection'. Issachar is the connecting tribe between Judah and Zebulun. The Vav month links the month of redemption and warfare praise with the next month, the month of giving!! Your praise for coming out will begin to link with continued praise until that offering is presented at Pentecost. This assures multiplication!!
4. The constellation associated with this month is Taurus (bull). To the Hebrews, the bull was the symbol of strength. Find your place to increase your strength... find a place of improvement so your strength can manifest and increase...
5. The month of Issachar. 1 Chron 12:22-32 - who understood the times and knew what Israel should do!!! God wants us to be like the men of Issachar!! He is looking for a prophetic people who understand the times!!!
To walk with Issachar anointing - live in tune with God... Your life is aligned with God's timing!! It is living in sync with God's rhythm!! It means to have a sense of what God is doing in the times you live in, & know what to do to flow with His plan!! Iyar is a month to gain an Issachar anointing!!
6. This is also a month of testing!! There is a timing for testing!! Important to recognize when you are in a time of testing & to understand the issue of the test!! Also important to know there is a time for testing to end!! Rewards await when we pass the test!! For Israel Iyar was a time of testing...
At Passover, they left Egypt for the Promised Land & God brought them thru a detour to reach Sinai. At Sinai they would experience Pentecost!! Sinai was the place of His presence!! - where He would reveal His glory!! So God took them to the mountain, where they would be equipped for their walk with God and prepared for a life of victory!! But going from Egypt to Sinai meant passing thru testing!!
First test - at Red Sea Pharaoh was chasing them & Red Sea was in front! Israel began to murmur & complain... God had Moses raise his staff & the Red Sea parted! More testing...>>>> faith had to grow!!
1. Israel came to Marah... no water for 3 days... came to oasis - water!! But water was bitter!! So they complained & murmured...
Issue : Disappointment - unfulfilled expectation!! What they got was not what they expected!! Moses picked up a stick & threw it in!! God healed bitter waters. More than that - God proclaimed He could heal people!! Yahweh Rapha!! Iyar - acrostic - I am the Lord who heals you!! Receive God's healing this month!!
2. Israel headed into wilderness again!! Came to Elim - 12 springs & 70 palm trees Test: how to respond to Blessing!! Deut 28:47 Issue: Thankful heart?? They failed the test again!! Key to increasing faith - overflow with praise!!
3. Came to Wilderness of Sin - no food!! They again murmured & complained. Exo 16 Issue: failure to ask!! Learn to ask God!! Matt 7 God showed His ability to provide!! Ground covered with manna: bread from heaven
4. At Rephidim - no water!! Exo 17 Issue - could not see any way God could provide!! >>> hopelessness, unbelief & self-pity!!! Could have chosen to trust Him but they complained... God asked Moses to strike rock & water came out...
5. Amalekites began to attack!! Amalekites began ambushing the stragglers & the weak!! Exo 17. Moses raised his hands in prayer, and Joshua fought... Aaron & Hur supported Moses' hands so that they were continually raised. Issue: weakness...
Stragglers were too weak to keep up so enemy attacked them Soldiers were too weak to keep fighting & enemy began to win! Moses was too weak to keep interceding & they began losing!! Sometimes we are too weak & too tired to make it on our own!!
God had provision for that too!! Army came & stood in gap for stragglers & protected them. Moses stood in gap for army so they could find strength!! Aaron & Hur stood with Moses so his strength would not fail!!
Result - they won!!! Sometimes God's solution to our weakness - provide brothers & sisters >>>whole nature of Covenant!! When we are weak, others are strong!!
Challenge and Summary Israel got to Sinai they made it thru though they did not pass any test - grace was given!!! God is taking you from Passover to Pentecost!! At Sinai His glory came >> Pentecost - a time of power, glory & revelation!!
God can bring us thru the testings lay hold of His promises & choose to believe!! Eg. How Jesus was tested on the way to the Cross!! - faced threats from religious leaders - endured betrayal by Judas - endured denial by Peter.
Lk 9:51. Jesus set His eyes on the goal & kept moving forward!! So if you experience testing, choose to trust God & keep moving forward!! Don't murmur nor complain!! God wants you to make it to the mountain this month!!
Summary of 5 testings 1. Marah - bad water 4. Rephidim - no water 3.Sin - no food 2. Elim - good water 5. Rephidim - Amalek attack
Iyar is the month to go through testings and come out victorious God is the Covenant keeping God Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi. This is the Vav, connecting month to seasons of blessing and prosperity and revelation..