By Joan Masterson
We study the Months of the Lord to become familiar with the patterns He has set for us through the stories and instructions we find in His word.Iyar is the second month of the Jewish Calendar. It is also called the month of Ziv, which means “radiance.” In addition, it is often referred to as the month of natural healing. The name Iyar is an acronym for “I AM God your Healer,” the name God referred to Himself as in Exodus 15:26.
In Nissan, we celebrated Passover, the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. During their deliverance as the Nation of Israel, the Hebrews experienced the power of God as He showed His authority over all the false gods of the Egyptians. Each plaque proved that the gods they worshiped were no match for the God of Israel. However, during the month of Iyar, as they traveled from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, he began to show them His character.
The Hebrews learned about God from life experiences with Him as there was no written resource as we have the privilege to have today. Yet even today, we too learn about God’s vast love and power as we do life with Him. Iyar is a transition month for the Hebrews from deliverance to a new level of relationship as they were approaching Mt Sinai. There, they would come to hear about His heart and the importance of worship and instructions for their relationship with each other and with Him. The secrets of His covenant and the coming of His son would be revealed through the teaching of Moses as he received instruction directly from the Lord.
The first three days after the Red Sea, there was no water to be found in the desert except for bitter water for the two million people Moses was leading. As the people complained, Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord showed Moses to follow my direction, and I can heal the bitter waters. Most importantly, though, He spoke to Moses a covenant promise.
Exodus 15:[26] And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.” God spoke His name Yahweh Rapha, I am the Lord, your healer. Keeping with God’s instructions to listen to God and obey God revealed more of His character and His Covenant promises.
As they traveled on and they complained of a lack of food. The Lord provided quail and revealed another covenant promise that He is the Lord who provides. Yahweh Jaira in Exodus 16.
The third covenant promise, God revealed that He was Yahweh Nissi, the Lord my Banner of Victory, as He helped them win the battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17. When Moses grew tired, he needed help to hold up his arms for victory. God clearly shows us in the fights we face that we need each other. God’s heart is to establish the understanding that He wants us to be united in His purposes. He wants us to understand interdependence as a family, not independence. As He reveals to us our identity in Him and the gifts and callings He has given us, we must understand these gifts are to work together in humility to establish His Kingdom as the One New Man.
This is the month to press in and learn more about God’s covenant and our response. As we press in, God will reveal the covenant blessings for us to receive throughout the year. This month is also the month of natural healing, as God showed the Israelites His healing was natural, and that they need to learn to control their complaining. This month, we are encouraged to take time to process our thoughts, deal with the conscience of the soul, and receive spiritual advice. These are the characteristics God was developing in the Hebrews as they traveled to Sinai to be in a better posture to receive from God.
This month is associated with the letter vav, which is considered a connector. A time to connect heaven and earth through our worship and receive wisdom from Father as to who and what we are to connect with this year. We have just celebrated being set free in our Passover remembrance. Let us walk circumspectly so that we do not get entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Let God direct us in our activity, in relationships. Lean on the Holy Spirit to correct us in wrong thinking, agreeing with the accuser of the brethren instead of the Lord.
Issachar is the tribe associated with this month. They are the tribe that knew how to discern the times and the season for direction from God. They were the burden bearers and connectors of the tribe of Judah, the praise carriers, and the Lawgivers with the Tribe of Zebulon, the tribe associated with wealth.
Ask God for an Issachar anointing to function this year in your life. Start the year off right.