The First Hebrew Month/Nisan - A Month of Redemption

Nisan is the first Hebrew month on the agricultural calendar. It corresponds to the Gregorian months of March- April. Prior to the Exodus when God told Moses that “this month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2-3), the new year began in the fall, in the month of Tishri. The Hebrew civil year still begins on the first of Tishri.

Nisan is known in Hebrew as chodesh ha-yeshuah, the “month of the salvation” (notice Messiah Yeshua's name in this, because His name means salvation). It is also known as chodesh ha-aviv the “month of spring”.

It is during this month that the Passover occurred and the people of Israel were delivered from Egyptian bondage. Every year there is a remembrance of this physical redemption/deliverance from Egypt. Today we await our physical and spiritual redemption/salvation from our bondage here in this evil world by the work of Messiah Yeshua (our salvation). While the first night of Passover commemorates the redemption from a physical exile in Egypt, the last exodus will be greater and will come about through Messiah Yeshua when He gathers all of His children (Israel – by blood or adoption, Jew or non-Jew), to Himself. The prophet Jeremiah tells us about this day of the final in-gathering:

Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

This is the day that I await!

This month contains major holidays on God's calendar. The first is Passover which occurs on Nisan 14. This is the day when the Passover lambs were slain. Unleavened Bread begins at sundown, the 15th of Nisan, and is celebrated for 7 days. The first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread are high holy sabbaths. The holy day of first-fruits also occurs during the week of Unleavened Bread. In His first coming Yeshua (salvation) brought these times of His Father to a higher understanding as He was crucified on Passover, buried on the first day of Unleavened Bread, resurrected on first-fruits and was presented to His Father as the perfect sacrifice. He was the second Adam who was free from sin and thus able to take back the keys of death and sheol, providing for our salvation and redemption. He was the lamb that Abraham beheld at the binding of Isaac when he said, “God shall provide for Himself a lamb”, and as John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.

The entire season from the 14th through the 21st of Nisan is often collectively called Passover, although the Passover itself actually occurred during the middle of the night of the 15th of Nisan. In fact, the season from the day the Passover lamb was killed (the 14th) all the way through to Shavuot (Pentecost) is often called “the season of our redemption”.

This is indeed a very special time of the year. I trust that each and every reader will take this season of Passover to heart and learn its true meaning and significance, not only historically, but also in the atoning work of Messiah Yeshua.

Our Ancient Paths has many, many teachings on the website that are related to Passover. Some are found below this article, but many can be found under the tab of Appointed Times or Feast Teachings. I hope that you will search those out for a deeper understanding.

Blessings to each of you during this wonderful season that is upon us,

Leisa

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