By Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested

The evening of November 29 begins the Hebraic month of Kislev that lasts for 29 or 30 days depending upon whether or not an additional day is required to make a “full” year. Kislev is the ninth month on the Hebraic calendar and the third month of the civil year which began on the first of Tishri. It is important for us to remember that each new moon is a picture of resurrection with opportunities for new choices and new beginnings. One month ending and a new month begins on our “Quest of the Overcomer.

What is the fruit from the Tree of Life that the Lord is offering to us in this month of Kislev? (Revelation 22:2a)

Clue – Security, trust and rest!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The name of Kislev is a derivative from a Hebrew word actually meaning security and trust. Let us examine our hearts to see any areas of insecurity that may hinder our ability to fully trust in God’s faithfulness. This can be an important month in our Overcoming Journey to experience a new depth of security in the goodness of the LORD, to trust Him more deeply and to enter a new place of comforting rest in Him.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalms 18:2

 “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” Psalms 32:7

The tribe of Benjamin is associated with the month of Kislev and was the second son of Jacob born to his favorite wife, Rachel. And, he was the only son born in the land of promise. At his birth before she died, Rachel called him Ben-Oni, meaning, “son of my sorrow.” However Jacob changed his name to Benjamin which means “son of the right hand.” (Genesis 35:17-18) The words “right hand” appears 166 times in the Bible and has significant meaning representing divine authority, power, strength and for blessing. Let’s trust the LORD to turn any sorrows or disappointments of the past into foundations of strength for blessings in our lives this month.

 “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:13).

 God hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength (Isa. 62:8).

 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Luke 22:69)

The Tribe of Benjamin were known as fierce warriors whose weapon of choice was the bow and they became known as mighty men of valor. “And from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.” II Chronicles 14:8b

What is our assignment in spiritual warfare during this month of Kislev?

Clue – To hit the mark!

 It is also interesting to note that the constellation aligned with the month of Kislev is Sagittarius – the Archer with a bow and arrow. The Hebrew word “turah” is derived from a root word that was used in archery, ”yarah,” which means to shoot an arrow in order to hit a mark. Just as the Gospel is written in the stars, this is a month for us to “hit the mark” in our spiritual warfare assignments to overcome any cultural hinderances or areas of compromise that have come against us in this Overcoming Journey. The heavens truly declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork and Adonai reveals knowledge to us in the night.

“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.” Psalms 18:32,34,49 (NIV)

 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.” Psalms 19:1-2

As the nights grow longer and the days are shorter, what is our hope in the night?

Clue – To dream!

“For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.” Job 33:14-16

Kislev is known as the month of dreams. The word for dream in Hebrew is “chalom” and is derived from the verb meaning “to be made healthy or strong.” This is a month to watch our sleep patterns as the Lord often speaks to us in dreams. “He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” (Ps 127:2 NASB) He imparts revelations, warnings, encouragement and truth with understanding for our future. Each dream is a parable to be revealed. The Torah portions for the month of Kislev contain more dream references than any other month.

You may want to begin keeping a dream journal during this month of Kislev. Adonai seals instructions in our hearts through our dreams. Sleep is actually a metaphor for death and the new moons are symbolic times of resurrection. Human beings sleep appropriately one third of our lives. Let’s become more and more aware of our dreams and how our LORD wants to communicate with us while we sleep.

The Hebraic letter for the month of Kislev is “Shamekh” which is a picture of trust, support, and coming full circle. May we all find a new level of trust and support in Adonai this month that will bring us full circle; ending some things that need to cease so that we can step forward into all the new He has for us in Him.

What is the Feast of Dedication that is mentioned in John 10:22?

Clue – Hanukkah, The Feast of Lights.

The Feast of Dedication – Hanukkah, is a Festival of Lights which is portrayed by the Menorah that was displayed in the Holy of Holies.

“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.” Exodus 25:31

 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.” Exodus 27:20-21

 Later in the month of Kislev is the Celebration of Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. “At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.” John 10:22-23 (NASB) This is the only place in the Bible that Hanukkah is mentioned.

The Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah with eight nights of lighting the Menorah candles. The historical, Apocryphal books of the Maccabees tells us of the Seleucid king that tried to eradicate Jewish religious traditions to force the worship of Greek gods. When the Jews took back control of the Temple during the Maccabean revolt, the one and only cruse of oil miraculously kept burning in the menorah lampstand for all of the required entire 8 days! Oil is a widely recognized symbol for Holy Spirit. The lights of the Menorah that were to never burn out are symbolic of the promised Messiah that would be filled with the Spirit of the Lord that would reign forever and ever.

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:1-2

 “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 1:4-5a

Kislev is a good month to ask Adonai to identify anything that may be hiding in the dark corners of our heart. As He reveals to us these things and brings them into His marvelous light, may we receive His healing and extend His healing to others. “Adonai, let Your light shine brightly within each of us, as we lay any dark and hidden things within us at Your feet.”

During this wonderful season we must all learn to see each person that we come in contact with in the light from Adonai’s perspective; not after the failures and inadequacies of our flesh. As we look upon one another we must not see dead splintery winter branches of barrenness. There are hidden threads of life beneath the surface of each of us that Adonai wants to reveal for His glory. God sees our ends from our beginnings. Through the redemptive sacrifice of Yeshua and the light of His Love, He is able to transform each of our lives from darkness to light. Each of us are as a seed of potential that can grow and be transformed into a fruit bearing tree. Let’s be the “Overcomer” that Adonai has created for us to be, and partake of the ripe fruit from the Tree of Life.

Kislev is a month to watch and pray for Israel. We need to realize that during Hanukkah, Christmas is looked upon as evil by most of the Jews. There are few places in the world that people can go during this time of the year that have not been decorated with glaring secular commercialism. It is even hard for believing Christians to see Jesus celebrated or exalted higher than Santa, endless festivities, lists of toys and numerous gifts to buy. However, we must make every effort to keep Jesus as the center of our family Christmas gatherings and celebrations. We are in a real spiritual war and the battle is just as real for us as it was for the Maccabean’s trying to restore Temple worship from those instigating to establish the counterfeit worship of false gods. Will the oil of Holy Spirit prevail within God’s people as His light in the world or will He be quenched from society because we pushed him out to celebrate shopping, feasting and traditions of man? The warfare is real and we each have our assigned battles in order for the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Some believe that Yeshua, Jesus is Messiah and some do not. Some will never be able see Him if we don’t see them through the eyes of Adonai with His mercy. By God’s enabling grace, we must all be as Jesus on this earth; by doing what He did. He loved. He gave. He healed. He was kind. He spoke life. He only did what He saw His Father doing. He only said what He heard His Father saying. And, most of all He was willing to see people from His Father’s perspective of LOVE.

So during this month of Kislev, let’s expect to deepen our sense of security and trust in the LORD and be ones that dream dreams. Ask Adonai to bring you dreams that reveal the truth that you need to see from His perspective. Draw back your bow, in the power of His might, aim true and hit the target every time for His Glory!

May The Holy Spirit of Wisdom, Revelation, Counsel, Might and Knowledge in the Fear of God be yours as you learn how to celebrate in the truth of His Heavenly Light. Holy Spirit, come and fill us with Your magnificent light; that we may we be light in this world in Jesus Name. Amen.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalms 126:1-2 (NIV)

 Blessings and Shalom with Love Beyond Measure, Beth and JoBeth.

 

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All scriptures from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Reference credit: “A Time to Advance” by Chuck Pierce with Robert and Linda Heidler  © 2011

(Photography purchased or taken by Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested. Photo Art by Beth Auman)

© Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested 2019

 

An Invitation to Join the Quest of the Overcomers by Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested