Torah Portion VAYIGASH – Beresheet (Genesis) 44:18-47:27 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
Shabbat shalom, dearly beloved!
Many people start the Gregorian Calendar New Year with what they call “New Year’s Resolutions.” For the most part, they revolve around improving some problem areas, such as weight loss or quitting smoking, etc. Most of these resolutions remain as “wishful thinking,” as most people cannot carry them through! They are a vain attempt of the flesh to “improve itself” without Repentance- Teshuva, which brings about a true revolution in the way we think and act.
It is very interesting that the Pagan Calendar Year, starting in January and ending in December, is celebrated from midnight on and not from sunset as the Biblical Day goes. It is also interesting that most people party until the early hours of the morning and get drunk a lot, all that on top of the famous “resolutions” to be a better person next year! People everywhere are hoping for New Beginnings, and yes, YHVH is a God of new beginnings and second opportunities, but they come as a fruit of Teshuva-Repentance and not human resolutions!
“And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
What is the difference between a Resolution and a Repentance induced Revolution? In the first, the source of it is the flesh, and in the second one, it is the spirit. The first one depends on human self-effort, and the second one depends on Elohim-God and His mercy and ability to change us. The first one is a total failure, and the second one is an eternal success. The first one is rooted in pride and self-confidence, and the second one is rooted in humility, faith, and trust in a loving Creator that cares about us.
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Teshuavah in Hebrew means to Repent, to Return (to Yah’s ways), and to be restored. It is only His goodness that leads us into Teshuva-Repentance. It starts with humility and prayer, fasting and prayer, which in turn releases grace to change our ways and forgiveness to have a fresh new start. When we celebrate Rosh Chodesh and Rosh Hashana (New Month and New Year) according to the Hebrew Biblical Calendar, the shofar is blown, calling the people to Teshuva.
In the Biblical Culture, there are two times a year when we celebrate the “New Year.” The first one is on the First Biblical month, the month of Abib (Nissan) or the month of Pesach (Passover). Since it is the first of the month, it is Rosh Chodesh celebrations calling us to return to YHVH and through that to receive Freedom and Deliverance!
“Now YHVH said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ‘This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.’” Exodus 12:1-2
“On this day in the month of Abib, you are about to go forth.” Exodus 13:4
The second “New Year” is the Feast of Shofars (Trumpets) on the first of the Seventh Biblical Month (Tishrei), where the whole theme is Teshuva leading to the Fast of Yom HaKippurim, or the Day of Atonement.
“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’” Leviticus 23:24
Both New Year celebrations are totally Biblical and focused on seeking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Yaakov and His Kingdom and not oneself. These Biblical New Year celebrations are not accompanied by disco bar parties with lots of alcohol and vain resolutions but rather by prayer services, public and private repentance, and worship in spirit and truth. How far and different are these Biblically oriented celebrations from the pagan New Year, where the center of it all is man and his/her resolutions!
Both in the Biblical New Year for Agriculture and Feast Cycle (First of Abib, normally in March) and on the Jewish New Year for civilian affairs, which falls on the Feast of Shofars called Rosh Hashanah, the focus is worship to YHVH; He is the Center, and we revolve around Him. When He is the focus and the center of our life and celebrations, we can truly enjoy a revolution!
“Commit your works to YHVH, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
An important question to ask is this one: When Yeshua returns to rule and reign from Jerusalem, will He be following the Hebrew Biblical Calendar or the Gregorian pagan calendar that is rooted in sun worship? The Word of Elohim tells us clearly that He will not return until all things are restored, and that includes Holy Worship and the Biblical Feast Calendar.
“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of YHVH and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:19-21
This is so clear in Zechariah 14:16 when His Word states that all the nations will have to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Biblical Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) and that the nation that does not come will have no blessing, no rain. Nations are commanded to celebrate Biblical Feasts, not Christmas or Easter or New Year’s Eve!
“Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, YHVH of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHVH of hosts, there will be no rain on them. If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which YHVH smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. This will be the punishment of all nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.” Zechariah 14:16-19
Because of their ignorance, He has had mercy on the nations, but once He establishes the Millennial Reign, they will have no choice but to choose the Biblical Hebrew Calendar. After all, why would Greek, Roman-Babylonian traditions have more influence and power in the nations and especially in the Church than Hebrew Biblical traditions or commandments? It is because the spirit of the Anti-Messiah (Anti-Christ) has been ruling since the Council of Nicaea established Replacement Theology as Church Doctrine! But the command for 2026 is to repent and return to the Biblical Hebrew Foundations of Faith that times of refreshing and revival will come from the Presence of YHVH!
To help you in making the turn and entering Revival, we have a one-of-a-kind online Bible School called GRM that you can order at https://www.grmbibleinstitute.com/. It will help you immensely, as it is helping many around the globe! Then your New Year’s Resolutions will turn into the MAP Revolution, the Messianic Apostolic Prophetic Revolution, and you will be able to enjoy a New Beginning like never before! Many people who have experienced the change that Teshuva-Repentance towards the original Hebrew Foundations of Faith, as in the Book of Acts, state that they feel “born again, again!” That is true revival!
I encourage you to study GRM and start celebrating the Biblical Feasts rather than following the pagan feast calendar! After all, it is His Word that is established in Heaven and not our traditions!
“Do not quench the Spirit’s Fire.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19
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