The Month of Iyar 5779 – Overcoming Fruit From the Tree of Life

By Beth Auman and JoBeth Kested

 The Hebraic month of Iyar began the evening before May 6 through 29 days to June 3rd. Iyar is still considered the second month on the Jewish calendar, following Adar 1 even with the addition of Adar 2 in this Hebraic calendar leap year. The Torah refers to Iyar, which is the eighth month from Tishrei, as the second month because the Torah counts months from Nissan, when Israel left Egypt. It’s helpful to understand that when the Torah refers to the “second month, it’s talking about Iyar.

The tribe of Israel associated with this month is the Tribe of Issachar. In I Chronicles 12:32 it says, “the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” The implication is wisdom with understanding from discerning the character and ways of God with anointing of the Holy Spirit for guidance. This is often referred to as the “Issachar Anointing” with the ability to “know” the secret things of the Lord.

There are several additional significant keys for insight into the month of Iyar which reveal additional aspects of the Issachar Anointing.

• The letter of the Hebrew alphabet assigned to Iyar is the VAV which means connection and linking.
• The constellation of Taurus is aligned with Iyar; representing power and strength.
• The color of royal lapis blue is also associated with Iyar representing the heavenly realms and the glory of the Lord.
• The name used in the Torah for this month is Ziv; meaning a glowing light; which signifies increased revelation, and implies our need to “see” and experience the glory of the Lord.

Clue — Counting the Omer.

The month of Iyar is also the only month of the entire year that we count the Omer each day of the entire month and is a key to becoming those that know and discern the times.

“‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath;”Leviticus 23:15-16

 Jesus told His disciples, “but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”” Luke 24:49

 This is where He instructed them to count the Omer during the 50 days up to the Feast of Shavuot. They all knew and had done this their entire lives and and were obedient. Jesus knew that the feast of Shavuot – Pentecost was going to occur at that time. At the Feast of Shavuot – Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given. (Acts 2) Through  obedience to Jesus our Lord, we can receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis and spend time with Adonai every day. This concept is actually where developing the discipline for Daily Devotionals came from. What seems like an old tradition is truly a key to the Issachar Anointing.

This month of Iyar is a month of transition and all of us know that transition is a difficult, confusing and uncomfortable time between where we’ve been, on the way to where we are going; and often times without clearly knowing exactly where that is! An excellent picture for more understanding of transition is when something is poured out from one container to another. There are those moments when everything is in a free fall with no boundaries, guidance or protection until safely settled into the new place. That gives us a pretty accurate picture of why we often become emotionally unfettered in the midst of transitions!

Now we can ask, “What is the Ripe Fruit from the Tree of Life in the month of Iyar?”

Clue — Iyar is especially associated with recovery and healing. “Ani Hashem Rofecha”—“I am the Lord that heals you.”

Our scriptural reference is the story of the children of Israel in transition from Egypt to the Promise Land. They have escaped 400 years of captivity after experiencing the numerous miracles of Passover and deliverance through the parted waters of the Red Sea. They have wandered three days past the Red Sea into the wilderness without water only to arrive at the bitter waters of Marah.

“And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you. Exodus 15:24-26

Expectation — To experience the Glory of the Lord of the God who heals!

Almost all of us may find ourselves in a place of transition. Maybe we’re glad to be out of the place where we were, but now stuck in some wilderness in desperate need of the Lord’s intervention to heal our minds, bodies, finances, relationships or circumstances. Even if we are not in transition, we’ll all agree that an Issachar Anointing of wise discernment would be a great help for us to know what we should do in difficult times.

So, how do we learn the secrets of the Lord?

Clue — Wisdom with understanding!

 “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

“He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2:21b-22

 “To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,” Proverbs 1:2, 5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

Wisdom and understanding go together. Wisdom without understanding is not complete. Wisdom with understanding leads to discernment, accompanied by the dawning light of direction for the steps of action we need to take through the Wilderness of Transition!  Steps ordered by the Lord, in the power of Holy Spirit, lead us into the Glory of the Lord’s presence where He can reveal Himself to us as Jehovah Rapha—our Healer, Jehovah Jireh—our Provider, Jehovah Shalom— our Peace, Jehovah Nissi—our Refuge, El Gibbor—Champion or Mighty God Who fights for us and El Shaddai—our God that is MORE THAN ENOUGH!

From JoBeth: Many years ago I ended up in a deep pit of depression; where even Christian doctors and psychologists advised my husband that I would never be whole again. Something within me knew that if I couldn’t trust God, that He is Who He says He is and does what He says He does, then I had nothing but a shell of religion, without relationship, and no hope for myself much less anyone else. For several years the Lord directed me to his Word, especially delving into 5 Psalms and a Proverb each day, which was key to leaning the character and ways of God. It was a long journey, one step at a time. The increasing light of wisdom with understanding and discerning His path for me, grew brighter and brighter into the Glory of His presence in His redemptive, merciful, healing in His grace. He healed my broken heart, gave me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Counting The Omer this month, we are encouraged to actively turn our focus unto the Lord each day, learning the character and ways of the Lord, for unraveling the secret things with wisdom and understanding. Each day of Iyar leads us further in our Journey of the Overcomers, through our Wilderness of Transitions towards the “Promise Land” of fulfilling God’s ordained destiny and purposes for our lives. This is our opportunity of becoming those that know and discern the times with expectation that we will learn the Way of His Wisdom to see His light unto our path into His Heavenly glory.

Oh, Lord, Adonai, as we count the Omer during this month of Iyar, we give each day to you and asking, “What do we need to see?” At the breaking of each new day, we lift our hands, hearts and lives unto YOU. We ask You for the anointing as “sons of Issachar” that we might learn Your character to know Your ways, gaining Your wisdom with understanding, to discern the way we need to go. We receive the light of Your glorious presence for Your healing work in every area of our lives. We declare that You are Who You say You are, and You will do what you say You will do! Acknowledging that Jesus is our Lord, our Redeemer, Warrior, our Shalom and we declare that by His stripes we are healed! Thank You LORD! We receive Your healing touch this month of Iyar on our Journey of the Overcomers. Amen!

 “Arise, shine; For (our) light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon (us).” Isaiah 60:1

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All scriptures from the New King James Version of the Bible.

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