In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished [them] in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.2 Chronicles 31:7-8
We have now entered the biblical month of Cheshvan(חֶשְׁוַן in Hebrew), which is the eighth month of the biblical calendar, in the year of Ayin Hei. This month is a vital point in the year that represents a time of new beginnings, a time to forget the travail of the past and a time to receive anointing that activates you as an heir to the throne this year. We are in such an amazing time in history as God is in the process of restoring His glory in the earth.
The month of Chesvan is the second month of the period of autumn, which comprises the three months of Tishrei, Cheshvan and Kislev. The three tribes corresponding to the months of autumn are Ephraim, Mannaseh and Benjamin; who in the desert encampment around the tabernacle were situated to the west. Their joint camp was known as the camp of Ephraim, who’s name means “I shall be doubly fruitful”. Every year we have access to a double portion as we align with the Lord during the autumn season.
The month of Cheshvan is linked with Hebrew letter Nun, which relates to Jesus as the heir to the throne, making it known as the month of the Messiah. It is also linked with the Tribe of Mannaseh, who was Joseph’s first born son, making it the month we enter into a new level of joy. When Mannaseh was born Joseph said, “For God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house”.It was during this month that flood during Noah’s time began and ended. Once it was ended, God showed the sign of His covenant, the rainbow, to Noah and promised that He would never destroy the earth by water again.
The Month of New Beginnings
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that [was] with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.Genesis 8:1-3
Historically the month of Cheshvan is the month that the flood began and ended. When the waters assuaged and the fountains of the deep were stopped, humanity was given a new lease on life on the earth through Noah and his family. God had chosen to destroy His creation because man had become so wicked that his imagination was only evil continually. Mankind had chosen to pursue only evil and turn away from his created purpose, which is to be the dwelling of God and establish His image in the earth.
There is a very interesting thing we can learn from the man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord, namely Noah whose name means rest. Noah was a man living in a time that was marked with unprecedented wickedness but somehow he remained a man of righteousness. I believe His secret was continuing to find the image he had been created in as he gazed in the eyes of the Lord. When He looked in the fiery eyes of God I believe a supernatural grace imprinted his soul. This caused him not only to remain righteous but gave him a blue print for deliverance for the future generations. As he rested in this image he found grace or God’s enabling power to see God’s vision accomplished.
When we look at the mirror image of Noah’s name in Hebrew it spells the word grace in Hebrew. This mystery allows us to see that God’s enabling power is found in our ability to rest in His image, which is only seen as we gaze into His eyes through intimacy. II Corinthians says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This verse defines well what the Lord is doing this year, transforming us into the image of His glory so we can release it into the world around us!
As in the time of Noah, God is releasing His blueprint for deliverance and total victory so that we can arise and shine as vessels filled with His glory. One of our greatest enemies this year will be to allow turbulence around us to pull us into confusion. We must go to battle maintain our peace and allow Holy Spirit to enable us to accomplish what God has placed in our heart. As we commune with Him face to face our spirit communes with Holy Spirit and we obtain mercy and enabling power in our time of need.
Releasing the Dove
Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. Genesis 8:8-9
After the rains had stopped Noah chose a very peculiar way to see if the waters had totally receded; he released a dove. There were many other birds on the ark that he could have chosen to release to gauge whether or not it was safe to transition from the ark to the land again but he chose the dove. Prior to this we see him release a raven, which hovered above waters flying to and fro until the waters abased. The raven obviously served a purpose in revealing to Noah when it was time to leave the ark but the dove seemed to be his focus.
Our western culture has displayed the raven as a form of evil but scripturally speaking the opposite is true. The raven was appointed to bring the prophet Elijah food while he remained at the brook Cherith. The color of the raven is used to describe the hair of the beloved in the Song of Solomon. The raven during Noah’s time was a sign of his reverence for the Lord after being delivered from the flood. Psalm 111:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding is displayed when we do His commandments.
The dove biblically is the picture of Holy Spirit. This can be clearly seen when Jesus was baptized. A voice came from heaven declaring Him as the only begotten son and Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove and remained. Jesus had emptied Himself of Heaven’s power and authority when He descended to the earth to born as a man. At that moment when the dove rested upon Him and remained all that He had poured out filled Him once again. He was now walking the earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man. When Holy Spirit fills us and rests upon us we as believers are granted the same inheritance. Most times we are unable to walk in all we have the right to because we have not learned how to create a place for the dove to rest and remain.
When the dove, Holy Spirit, doesn’t find a place to rest He will always return back to the one who released Him. Jesus releases Holy Spirit to us for many things. His purpose in our lives can be summarized by two simple statements; He lives on the inside of us to transform us into God’s image and rests upon us to transform the world around us into Heaven’s image. As we humble ourselves to our King His wisdom fills our life and enables us to bring Heaven into any situation. As simple as that sounds walking it out seems quite difficult at times.
Jesus gave us the opportunity to walk in all that He walked in after His resurrection. Before ascending back into heaven He released to His disciples what we call the great commission. Because He has been given all of Heaven’s authority we have the right to go in His name. Holy Spirit enables us to walk in Heavens authority and power as Jesus did as we create a place for Him to rest. The time we have already walked through this year, the High Holy days am the Day of Atonement prepares a place of Him to rest during the Feast of Tabernacles. As we move forward this year we can take His presence with us and watch Him bring transformation.
I believe we are in a very unique time where God is going to cause the enemy to flee and give us the opportunity to possess our portion. We will be given many opportunities to release the dove into our personal lives, families and communities. Seek the Lord this month to ensure you have prepared a place for Him to rest. As you walk throughout your day listen to His voice and be sure to obey every word; even when it seems insignificant. Our obedience to His voice will ensure we are not quenching or grieving Holy Spirit. He will find a place to rest through our simple acts of obedience.