The Month of Iyar|Ziv

Iyar|Ziv – Month of Increasing Light
 
The biblical month of Iyar|Ziv is the second month in the biblical calendar. It is the month that links the time of the blood of the lamb with the time of the wind and fire of God.‘Iyar’ means ‘light’ and ‘Ziv’ means ‘glancing, splendor, radiance’.
 
Iyar|Ziv is the month that is aligned with Issachar who was the 9’th son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah (‘weary’). Issachar means ‘He brings earnings. He will bring a reward.’ (cf. Genesis 30:18).
 
Genesis 30:18:
18 Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.
 
Ruben and Issachar
 
It was the first born son Ruben who prepared the way for the birth of Issachar while he went at the time of the wheat harvest out to the field and found mandrakes that he gave his mother Leah. As Rachel saw it she asked Leah to give her some of the mandrakes.
 
For the giving of the mandrakes she allowed Leah in turn to sleep with Jacob so that Leah became pregnant with her fifth son Issachar (cf. Genesis 30:14-17).
 
Genesis 30:14-17:
14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”
16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.
17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son.
 
Based on Reuben’s intervention, it reveals that Jesus Christ, the firstborn and only begotten Son of God, leads us into intimacy with the Heavenly Father through the influence of the Holy Spirit, so that we receive, among other things, a better understanding of time.
 
As a result, we increase in discernment and knowledge of the times, just like the members of the tribe of Issachar (cf. John 1:14; Romans 8:29 i.c.w. 1 Chronicles 12:32).
 
John 1:14:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 
Romans 8:29:
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

1 Chronicles 12:32:
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; ...
 
The Anointing of the Tribe of Issachar
 
The characteristic and value of Issachar is to recognize the times and seasons to advice what Israel should do (cf. 1 Chronicles 12:32).
 
1 Chronicles 12:32:
… 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; …
 
The sons of Issachar understand how to keep the membrane of time open enough so that the things that are being revealed can bee seen and be caused to manifest. It is about the invasion of eternity into time. This is what the Word of God means when it says, ‘in the fullness of time’ or ‘on the Lord’s day.’ (cf. Luke 9:51; Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:4; Revelation 1:10)
 
Luke 9:51:
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
 
Mark 1:15:
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
 
Galatians 4:4:
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, …
 
Revelation 1:10:
10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, …
 
These statements refer to the alignment of time (Note: eternal time and temporal time).
 
It is the ability of Issachar to understand the times of God and gain access to them. In order to gain access to time, it is first essential to recognize that God has already placed eternity in the heart of man (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:11a).
 
Ecclesiastes 3:11a:
11a He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; …
 
This is also revealed by the statement of Jesus, who said that the kingdom of God is within us (cf. Luke 17:21).
 
Luke 17:21:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
 
The kingdom of God is connected with obedience and Israel as a twelve-dimensional unit, which is derived from the 12 tribes of Israel (cf. Exodus 19:5-6).
 
Exodus 19:5-6:
“… 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
 
=> Throughout the history of ancient Israel, the tribe of Issachar is portrayed as a family destined to prosper physically and spiritually. The sons of the tribe of Issachar were not only ‘men of valor’ (cf. 1 Chronicles 7:1-5), but also called to serve the other tribes of Israel in the areas of finance and the ministry of God's word or teaching (note: Torah). <= (Note: The text set in ‘=>’ is based on a revelation teaching by Norm Franz of Ascension Ministries)
 
The First Tribe Alignment as a Model
 
Issachar is the connecting tribe of the first unit of the army of Israel that connects the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Zebulun. This connection is a model for the church because it is the first tribe alignment of the first unit from the army of Israel that is positioned at the east side of the tabernacle where the entrance of the Tabernacle is (cf. Numbers 2:2-3.5.7.9).
 
Numbers 2:2-3.5.7.9:
2 “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”
3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. …
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. …
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.
9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.
 
This first alignment of the first unit of the tribes Israel reveals to us the importance of the following aspects:
 
  1. spiritual warfare through worship (Judah)
  2. discernment of the right timing (Issachar) and
  3. provision in the form of divine ‘trading’ and change (Zebulun).
The ‘First Three Stairs’
 
These three tribes establish the head of the tribes of Israel and could also be viewed as the ‘first three stairs’ in the time cycle of God within the holy year of redemption.
 
  1. Judah => the ability to bring new sound to break through the old sound barrier and to move ahead
  2. Issachar => the ability to bring understanding about the secrets and times of God
  3. Zebulun => the ability to bring supply
The Riches of Issachar and Zebulun
 
It is the tribe of Issachar and Zebulun who are called together to bring in the riches for the Kingdom of God and thereby help to offer righteous sacrifices to the LORD from a place of vision (cf. Deuteronomy 33:18-19).
 
Deuteronomy 33:18-19:
18 About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out (international), and you, Issachar, in your tents (regional).
19 They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
 
Ministry in the Kingdom of God and Economy
 
It is crucial to understand that finances and resources are important for the ministry of the Kingdom of God. We cannot advance the Kingdom of God without ‘gold’ (note: richness of faith and material resources; cf. Revelation 3:18a).
 
Revelation 3:18a:
18a I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; …
 
This is evident, among other things, in the irrefutable fact that God secured the economy within the garden in the midst of Eden by creating the main river with its four streams. Here, the rivers were linked to mineral resources, which is clear from the example of the first river in Eden, which was Pishon. This river is connected with the pure gold, the aromatic resin and the onyx gems (cf. Genesis 2:11-12).
 
Genesis 2:11-12:
11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.
12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.)
 
Also Jesus’ beginning ministry on earth was linked to gold and aromatic resin that was given by the Magi (cf. Matthew 2:10-11).
 
Matthew 2:10-11:
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
 
Moreover, Jesus’ ministry got later also supported by some prominent women (cf. Luke 8:2-3).
 
Luke 8:2-3:
… 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others.
 
After the ascension of Jesus, the ministry of the apostles was supported by wealthy and prominent people following this principle (cf. Acts 4:34-37 i.c.w. Acts 17:12).
 
Acts 4:34-37:
… 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
 
Acts 17:12:
12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
 
These biblical scriptures make it clear that wealth building in faith is going to be important for the next move of God and will be managed by divine order.
 
The Call of Issachar and Heavenly Trading
 
Issachar calls the people to the mountain (Note: into the presence of God) in order to make sacrifices or investments. These sacrifices are a heavenly trade in the eyes of God which is done by the spirit without an earthly perspective trading by emotion. Issachar calls the people to trade at a different and higher level.
 
Trading at a higher level means not giving based on emotions into the Kingdom of God, but giving in the way like Abraham did. Abraham was willing to give his son out of obedience and therefore received instead a ram from God, which was already a fore sign of Christ (cf. Genesis 22:1-2.9-13).
 
Genesis 22:1-2.9-13:
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” …
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
 
This higher realm of sacrifice, is the level where saints from the position as kings (Note: by the blood of the Lamb; cf. Revelation 1:5-6) give their investment to God in the form of a sacrifice.
 
To ‘trade’ at a higher level means to trade with the right emotional attachment which is by obedience that is an expression of love towards God (cf. John 14:23 i.c.w. Matthew 6:24).
 
John 14:23:
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
 
Matthew 6:24:
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
 
Giving the right sacrifice and investment is based on understanding of times and seasons like Issachar in order to create eternal wealth in accordance to God’s will (cf. Matthew 6:19-21).
 
Matthew 6:19-21:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God commanded Israel among other things to sacrifice during the New Moon (Note: Rosch Chodesch; cf. Numbers 28:11-15) and to sacrifice specifically when the star systems were in particular constellations because it is the way of creating a capacity to align with what is coming and being transferred to the earth. (Note: This does not mean becoming active in an astrological context, but becoming active according to the appointed time frames by God according to Genesis 1:14-19 and Exodus 23:14-17.)
 
These constellations are linked to:
 
  1. Passover/Spring => Aries/the ram (lamb) = sacrifice/love of the Father,
  2. Shavuot – Summer => Gemini (2 tablets/Torah given on Sinai) = standard/order of God/ God’s value system,
  3. Sukkot – Autumn => Libra (the scales) = justice and righteousness of God).
The reason for investing into the Kingdom of God at these biblical feast times is that we corporately connect with the eternal plan that He has for us in order to establish it on earth.
 
=> The Understanding of Time
 
The sons of Issachar were also biblical astronomers who recorded the passage of times and points in time. They understood the times and were gifted to record the beginning of the years as well as the beginning of the months and to understand the correct position of the months in the two annual cycles of God (note: cycle of blessing and redemption).
 
Furthermore, Issachar was able to record the change of the moon (note: the strength of the month), the cycle of the sun (note: the strength of the hour and the day), and the constellations of the stars (note: the strength of the seasons) according to the biblical times in order to reveal to Israel what was to be done (cf. Genesis 1:14-19; Genesis 15:5 i.c.w. Judges 5:20; Psalm 8:1.3.9; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 148:1-6; Job 9:8-9; Job 38:31-33; Amos 5:8).
 
Genesis 1:14-19:
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
16 God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day.
 
Genesis 15:5:
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
 
Judges 5:20:
20 From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.
 
Psalm 8:1.3.9:
1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. …
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, …
9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
 
Psalm 19:1:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
 
Psalm 148:1-6:
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever – he issued a decree that will never pass away.
 
Job 9:8-9:
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
 
Job 38:31-33:
31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?
 
Amos 5:8:
8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land – the Lord is his name.
 
=> The knowledge of the sons of Issachar in the Torah (note: teaching/Word of God in all its fullness) and their understanding of the times made them keepers of the biblical calendar. Consequently, they were the ones who made known the appointed times and seasons when Israel was to celebrate the feasts of the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 23).
 
The feasts of the LORD reveal God’s plan and the timing of His redemption in Jesus Christ, from which it is clear that the sons of Issachar possessed the anointing to have a purposeful insight into God's timing of things past, present and future.
 
As an example, let us consider the time during the first Israelite civil war, while God was transferring the kingship of Israel from the government of Saul into David's hands. Eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel were divided among themselves because of the question of whom they should serve.
 
Only the sons of Issachar were united upon the point, because ‘all their captains’ united with David in battle, and in this way revealed to the tribes of Israel how they should position themselves (cf. 1 Chronicles 12:33 i.c.w. 1 Chronicles 12:23-41). <= (Note: The text set in ‘=>’ is based on a revelation teaching by Norm Franz of Ascension Ministries).
 
Not Getting Stuck in Coziness
 
It is crucial that we don’t get stuck by coziness through the given grace of God but to help the body of Christ by the discernment of the times to move ahead into the administration of supply for its purpose (cf. Genesis 49:14-15).
 
Genesis 49:14-15:
14 “Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.
15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.
 
Furthermore, the emblem of the tribe of Issachar is a donkey. For example, it was a donkey that announced the phase of the living and righteous word of God as a sword in the time of Balaam.
 
Also at the time of Jesus it was a donkey that served as his “vehicle” to bring Him to the capital Jerusalem and reveal him there as King of Kings and High Priest (cf. Deuteronomy. 22:23 i.c.w. Isaiah 1:20; Hebrews 4:12; Luke 19:28-38).
 
Numbers 22:23:
23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
 
Isaiah 1:20:
… 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
 
Luke 19:28-38:
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
 
Genesis 49:8-12:
8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness – who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
 
This month serves us especially in being aware of and holding fast to God’s appointed times and phases of joyful anticipation of fulfilling times in the past as well as in the future (cf. Psalm 103:2).
 
Psalm 103:2:
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – …
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm