There is something in the Parashat haShavua (weekly Torah reading) that just passed that has much to do with Yom Truah (Day of Loud-Trumpet Blast/Shout, otherwise known only traditionally as “Rosh haShanah”). Leviticus 23:23-25 gives us instructions about this day of Trumpet Blasts that is now soon to be upon us.
In the Parashah, Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20, (Parashat “Nitzavim”, where “Nitzavim” is Hebrew for “standing” – Deuteronomy 29:10), we find these words:
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law
(Deuteronomy 29:29)
This tells us that certain things were hidden from the children of Israel, but that they were to concern themselves with the things that were revealed to them. The Torah (Law) of God was revealed to the children of Israel. It was given to them to know and to obey. Not only this, but the Torah belongs to the children of Israel not only for that particular dispensation of Law, but FOREVER. No matter how little they knew of the hidden things of God, they could at least follow God’s laws, even if only the letter of the Law was revealed to them.
But now to us, what was hidden has now also been revealed. Scripture speaks of Christ as a mystery (Ephesians 1:9-10). A mystery is something that was hidden. That is why God said to the children of Israel that the secret (hidden) things belong to Him. Christ, who was hidden, is no longer hidden.
So then, what does all this have to do with the pending Yom-Truah (otherwise known as “Rosh haShanah”)? In Leviticus 23:23, the Israelites are commanded to celebrate the Day of Trumpets on the FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. The only way that the children of Israel could know that this was the first day of the month was by observation of the moon. As soon as it was a “new moon“, then they knew that the month had begun. But there is something peculiar about a new moon: for the most part, you cannot see it. The new moon is invisible, a darkened silhouette in the night sky with the light of the sun behind it, hidden for a few days. Technically speaking, as soon as you sight the thin sliver of the new moon, it is no longer a new moon, but it is a partial moon.
That is the connection between this last Shabbat’s Parashah and the pending Day of Trumpets (Rosh haShanah): a very loud declaration, a very loud shout of acclamation, a very loud trumpet blast that declares to us what was once hidden and is now no longer hidden; what was once a mystery and is no longer a mystery.
Just because the moon, in its hidden “new moon” state is invisible, does not mean that it does not exist. Just because Christ was hidden from the Israelites for centuries does not mean that he does not exist. Just because the things revealed, the Law given to the children of Israel, was relevant for them to obey, does not in any way mean that something far greater was yet to be revealed; that the Law of the Holy Spirit of Life in Messiah Y’shua (Christ Jesus) was to be imparted not only to the children of Israel first, but to all nations.
The “way” for the children of Israel was to follow God’s Law according to the letter of the Law. That “way” continues for all of us who have become children of Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus, who have been adopted into God’s household, who have become co-heirs together with Israel. Jesus never abolished the Torah (Mathew 5:17-20). He simply made it possible for us to keep the Torah (Law) by circumcising our hearts and empowering us by the Holy Spirit to do the Will of God from our hearts. He became “The Way” (John 14:6). No longer was “the way” only an obedience to the letter of the Law. Now “The Way” is Jesus himself, so that if, by a life in the Holy Spirit, we clothe ourselves with Christ, we can find ourselves capable of living according to God’s Law. The “things revealed” belong to the children of Israel forever. Because we are Abraham’s offspring in Christ, these things also belong to us. But now, what was hidden, what was once a mystery, is no longer a mystery. Jesus is no longer a mystery. We have been told by him that he is the way to the Father. When he said this, his disciples, both Simon Peter (John 13:36) and Thomas (John 14:5) were too overly pre-occupied with where Jesus would go. Instead, Jesus wanted them to be far more pre-occupied with himself, who he is, that he himself is the way to go to wherever he wanted them to go. Jesus himself is the way to the Father. Jesus himself is the way to keep God’s Holy Law and commands (Romans 8:3,4)
To the children of Israel, the light of the new moon was almost completely hidden, almost imperceptible in the night sky on that day of trumpet blasts. But that does not mean that it would remain hidden forever. Now, in Messiah Y’shua (Christ Jesus), “The Way, The Truth and The Life”, the light of Yihoveha (His Name) the Living God is shining very, very brightly in our hearts, to show us his ways and to enable us to live for him.
In order to get more wisdom and insight into the sighting of the new moon and its relation to Yom-Truah, please see the following video on YouTube created by Andrew Hodkinson, who is one of our authors on Good Olive Tree:
