Cheshvan 5780 | Encouraging Words

Cheshvan 5780 — Overcoming Fruit From the Tree of Life

By Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested

The evening of October 29 begins the Hebraic month of Cheshvan that lasts for 29 or 30 days depending upon whether or not an additional day is required to make a “full” year. Cheshvan is the eighth month on the Hebraic calendar and the second month of the civil year which began on the first of Tishri.

Though Cheshvan is now the the primary name used for this month, Marcheshvan or Mar Cheshvan was adapted in scripts written following the Babylonian exile. In ancient Hebraic translations it means “eighth month.” Mar has become associated with “mara” meaning “bitter.” It’s often referred to as the bitter month; possibly because this is the only month with no fasts or holidays.

What is the ripe fruit we are to partake from the Tree of Life in the month of Cheshvan? (Rev. 22:2a)

Clue — New Beginnings!

Cheshvan is designated as the month of Messiah; with the number eight signifying new beginnings and also represents the eternal revelation of the supernatural. The Hebraic letter aligned with this month is “NUN” that symbolizes the Messiah. Used as a verb, nun means “to reign.” As a noun (from nin), it means “the heir to the throne.” The Jewish scholars believe that there are no celebrations this month because Messiah will come to inaugurate the third temple in the month of Cheshvan; establishing the beginning of His reign over all the earth.

“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3

The building of Solomon’s temple was completed on the 17th of Cheshvan and the number 17 means “victory.” We are on the Quest of the Overcomers and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is a month to build up our faith in Yeshua—the Messiah, for new revelation of His supernatural power for victory over our weaknesses, failures or any areas of doubt, fear and unbelief. Now is the time for new beginnings!

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

The month of Cheshvan is linked to the Tribe of Manasseh—meaning to forget, to leap, up and away. Manasseh was the first born of Joseph in Egypt by Asenath the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. When he was born, Joseph declared, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.” (Genesis 41:51) This is a month to forget the pain and sorrows of our past to receive a new birth of hope, with a leap of faith, for new beginnings in our lives, circumstances and relationships.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14 NIV

The Biblical text refers to this month as Bul (I Kings 6:38) from the word “bool” meaning flood. The flood began in the month of Cheshvan and ended this same month a year later. Adonai washed away all the evil on the earth in a “mikva”—a baptismal deluge of water to cleanse the earth of impurity. After the flood ended, Noah offered a burnt sacrifice to God and He swore never to flood the entire earth again.

What was God’s response to Noah after the flood?

Clue — Covenant

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” Genesis 9:8-15

“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:13,17

In order to believe and receive Adonai’s covenant, we have to settle in our own heart, that His promises are true. He honors His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2) and we must choose to trust the LORD with all of our hearts above all else. This month of Cheshvan is our opportunity to embrace God’s call to a covenant walk with Him on His well lit path through the cycles of life that He has designed for us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

We encourage you to read Genesis 8 and 9 fully to grasp the fullness of God’s covenant that we enter when we receive Yeshua, the Messiah as our LORD and Savior. To know and understand God’s covenant is the reason He established the annual Feasts and Holy Days for His people to learn of His ways required to follow His path. Therefore, it’s also important for us believers in Jesus, to learn of His times, commanded Feasts and celebrations revealed in His Word. Elohim, the Creator God, created time as a boundary for our habitation in this fallen world. If we walk circumspectly, pursuing Him in love, faith and trust, we will learn His ways to overcome the traps of sin and destruction that separate us from a Holy God. He will perform the truth of His Word in our lives with blessings, joy and peace. And, we will dwell with Him in eternity!

What is the spiritual significance in the sense of smell?

Clue — The soothing aroma of sacrifice.

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.” Genesis 8:20-22

Why is the sacrifice a sweet smelling aroma to God?

Clue — Jesus!

Jewish scholars teach that the sense of smell is the most spiritual of all senses. The Hebraic word for smell is related to the word for spirit. Death was the judgement of sin from man’s rejection and disobedience that separated us from God. The sacrifice and shedding of blood from innocent animals was a symbolic shadow of the innocence, death and shedding of the blood of Messiah. It released the redeeming fragrance of forgiveness for our salvation that reconciles us back into relationship with a Holy God! Jewish tradition also teaches that Messiah will come and judge us by the way we smell. He will be able to identify the fragrance of His blood upon the doorposts of our hearts if we have appropriated His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. We are also called to be a sweet smelling sacrifice unto Adonai.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Cheshvan is connected with the fragrance of myrrh. Myrrh was one of the gifts given at the birth of Yeshua by the wise men and it is a prized sweet smelling fragrance used from ancient times. Myrrh was an ingredient of Ketoret—the consecrated incense used in the first and second temples in Jerusalem; as described in the Bible and Hebrew Talmud. Myrrh is also listed as an ingredient in the holy oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings.

Myrrh is commonly used as an anointing oil and symbolizes purification, grace and peace. Esther was bathed in Myrrh for six months before being presented to the king (Esther 2-12). Let us allow the purification process of the Holy Spirit this month, preparing us for more intimacy in the presence of our King, Jesus.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” II Corinthians 2:14

The Constellation of Scorpio is aligned with Cheshvan and symbolic that it’s time to tread on serpents and scorpions. Jewish sages teach that the scorpion is the deadliest member of the poisonous creatures and is linked to the primordial snake of Eden which brought the fall of all mankind and death entered God’s perfect world. The Hebraic word for scorpion is derived from the word meaning “heel” as it is said, “And you (the snake) will strike his (man) heel.” Genesis 3:15 (HCSB) Thus, the scorpion represents the deadliest “bite” to the heel of man.

The snake in the garden of Eden also usurped man’s God given authority to rule over the earth. It is critical this month for us to stand in our authority as those redeemed and restored to our rightful relationship with God by Yeshua’s blood shed on the cross. Also, remembering that we are now in the era of Pey, we must not only take our stand against demonic forces against us, but to declare and proclaim our authority over our designated territory!

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

What is the significance of the color violet this month?

Clue — Jesus is King of Kings!

Violet, not purple, is the significant color associated with Cheshvan. Scientifically, purple is a combination of equally blending red and blue, whereas violet is a unique separate color in itself. Therefore, legalistically, violet is a more dominating color than purple; though purple is the common name most often used. Also, violet is the name given to one of the seven streams of light in the colors of the rainbow. It stands at the highest level, not a mixture between blue and red. Numerous symbolism’s for violet—purple include: spiritual heights, heavenly grace, vibrant faith, divine inspiration, sovereignty and the most commonly recognized is royalty.

Purple became associated with wealth and royalty because for centuries it could only be made from a tiny sea mollusk, from the region of Tyre. It required the sacrifice of over 250,000 to produce one ounce of dye and a pound of purple cloth was equal to a bag of gold! It was not until the 1850’s that a commercially acceptable dye for purple was created by combining red and blue dyes. Historically, Cyrus, king of Persia, was the first known king to wear a robe of purple. Therefore, with Cheshvan being the month of Messiah, it is clear why the unique, most spiritual and royal color of violet—purple, is the color of this month because our Messiah, Yeshua, is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16)

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17 KJV

Notes from JoBeth: This month I experienced numerous hinderances and frustrations that kept interfering with writing this message, including a numbing brain fog, so that I could hardly hold a creative thought in my mind. Finally, realizing this was all beyond circumstantial, I cried out to the Lord to remove the blinders from my “eyes” to discern the enemies assignment against me. I began to realize I had a personal battle to overcome before I could put together all our notes for this month’s message on our “Quest of the Overcomers.”

Beth sent me some words with prophetic insights that began to break through the fog. I began to see in my notes this was designated as a month to forget the past, for new beginnings and for victory. I remembered that last month we had entered a new era of Pey and it’s time to use our mouths to declare and decree. [Declarations and decrees require authoritative and governing conviction in agreement with God’s will, to see breakthroughs. It is helpful to understand that Jesus commanded us to pray (decree), “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.]

I asked for the LORD to help me see what He wanted me to see and how to decree what He wanted me to decree. He led me to loudly speak and break off the chains of captivity from every negative, judgmental, condemning, demeaning, restricting and hurtful word curse ever spoken against me that I’ld heard or was said in secret. Afterwards, I felt led to proclaim with conviction that I am who the Lord says I am, I’ll do what He wants me to do, I’ll go where He wants me to go and He is not done with me yet! I know, that I know, that things broke in both the spiritual and natural realms! It is truly our hope that these messages, for those joining us on this Overcoming Journey, will also find encouraging words that are applicable in your personal lives, too.

During this month of Cheshvan ask the LORD to reveal to you a deeper revelation of His covenant. Ask Him to make things plain and clear deep within your heart so that you will walk more and more by faith; increasingly trusting in Him. Ask Him to reveal to you how you can become a sweet smelling aroma to God. On this Journey of the Overcomers, let us determine to be “Covenant Keepers and Destiny Fulfillers” through the Blood of Jesus our Messiah.

Our Prayer:

LORD Jesus, please expose any hindering chains of bondage holding us back from being all you want us to be. Teach us how to pray, to decree and how to dwell in Your presence as we increasing trust and follow You. Draw us into deeper revelations of You as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and our soon returning Messiah. Help us to continue on the Overcoming Journey and embracing your divine covenant with us. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Until next month—Blessings and Shalom; Love Beyond Measure, Beth and JoBeth.

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

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

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