Bul | Marcheshvan – The Month of Produce
The biblical month of Bul | Marcheshvan – also named Cheshvan – Is the eighth month within the redemptive cycle in the biblical calendar. It is the month of ‘fruit’ or ‘the fruit of the tree’ and ‘the produce’.
The Hebrew word ‘Mar’ preceding the month ‘Cheshvan’ means ‘bitter’ and can serve as a hint for us to ask the LORD for a strategy to turn bitter circumstances into sweetness, which goes hand in hand with the presence of the LORD as the one who secures health (cf. Exodus 15:23-25).
Exodus 15:23-25:
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.)
24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.)
24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.
The Sign of the Cross and the ‘Thaw’
The month of Cheshvan or Bul | Marcheshvan is assigned to the tribe of ‘Manasseh’, whose name is translated as ‘He who makes forget’.
His name should encourage us to leave the past behind and proclaim the good plan of God for our future. In this, we can learn from the movement and behavior of the four living creatures from the throne room of God, which always look forward as they move forward (cf. Ezekiel 10:11-13).
Ezekiel 10:11-13:
11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went.
12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.
13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”
11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went.
12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.
13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”
Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, being the second blessed by his grandfather Jacob after Ephraim, while Jacob crossed his arms (cf. Genesis 48:13-14).
Genesis 48:13-14:
13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him.
14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him.
14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
It was in Joseph’s interest to reverse the order of his father Jacob’s blessing, but this was not granted to him (cf. Genesis 48:17-19).
Genesis 15:13:
13 Then the Lord said to him (note: Abram), “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
13 Then the Lord said to him (note: Abram), “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
This clearly shows to us that it was God’s plan to proceed in this way, namely to shape the future through prophetic revelation. Thus, God had already established something in His predestined plan that could not be reversed by the will of a human being (cf. Psalm 33:4).
Psalm 33:4:
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
The name as afore mentioned means ‘Manasseh’ which means ‘he who makes forget’, whereas the name ‘Ephraim’ means ‘double fruitfulness’.
Through the two names given to the sons of Joseph, an important principle becomes clear, namely to be focused on letting go of the past and looking confidently to the fruitful future.
The Sign of the Cross and the ‘Thaw’
In the blessing of Manasseh, the sign of the cross played an important role, which was created by crossing the arms of Jacob, who is called Israel at this point, while he blessed Ephraim before.
The name ‘Israel’ means ‘God’s fighter’ and is an indication of the quality of the spiritual warfare to establish the presence of God and to go forward confidently in the blessing of God (cf. Genesis 32:27-29 i.c.w. Matthew 11:12).
Genesis 32:27-29:
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
Matthew 11:12:
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence (Note: forcefully advancing), and violent people have been raiding it.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence (Note: forcefully advancing), and violent people have been raiding it.
By crossing the arms, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, namely the ‘Thaw’ was created, which means ‘desire, longing, to indicate, to mark, to draw a line, wish, ambition, lust, to abominate’. This letter carries the symbol of ‘an identification mark, imprint, code’. In Job 31:35 is ‘Thaw’ used as ‘longing’ and in Ezekiel 9:6 it is used as an ‘indication mark’ for protection.
The numerical value of the letter ‘Thaw’ is ‘400’ and indicates the end of captivity and the beginning of freedom (cf. Genesis 15:13 i.c.w. Acts 7:6-7).
Genesis 15:13:
13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
Acts 7:6-7:
6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.
7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’
6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated.
7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’
Furthermore, the Hebrew letter ‘Thaw’ is the ultimate expression of space and time in a single letter.
The Sound of the Eternal Gospel and its Aroma
The crossing arms of Jacob over his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh can also be seen as the sphere of the eternal gospel that goes along with God’s special wind and covers us, much like it is described in Revelation 14:6-7.
Revelation 14:6-7:
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people.
7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people.
7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
The sound of the eternal gospel is the call to fear and worship God and the good news that God’s justice has come upon Babylon. It is the gospel that carries the fragrance of life and death (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
2 Corinthians 2:14-16:
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
The Destruction of Confusion
God destroys the confusion (Note: ‘Babylon/Babel’ means ‘confusion’), the power of false doctrine by those who move under the ‘crossed arms’ of the ‘Ancient of Days’ (Note: grandfather) (cf. Daniel 7:9-10; Revelation 14:8 i.c.w.1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Daniel 7:9-10:
9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
Revelation 14:8:
8 A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
8 A second angel followed and said, “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
1 Timothy 4:1-2:
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
The Hand of God and the Fivefold Ministry
The manifestation of God’s hand through His fingers, the fivefold ministry, creates divine unity and spiritual maturity. The result of this is that the influence of Babylon, namely confusion or seduction is put in its place (cf. Ephesians 4:11-14).
Ephesians 4:11-14:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
The Finishing of the Temple and the Closed Door of the Room
In the eighth biblical month, the temple was completed under the leadership of King Solomon, which is related to the Hebrew letter ‘Thaw’. As already mentioned, the ‘Thaw’ is the final expression of space and time in a single letter (cf. 1 Kings 6:38).
1 Kings 6:38:
38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.
38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.
The temple was the first permanent house of God.
Previously, the presence of God dwelt in a tent (Note: desert as transition) and later moved to the temple of Jerusalem (Note: solid substance), the capital of Israel, which means that God set up His throne in the midst of Israel. This is set up as the supreme court of God (cf. Psalm 122:3-5).
Psalm 122:3-5:
3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up – the tribes of the Lord – to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up – the tribes of the Lord – to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Only those who are true lovers (Note: worshipers => Judah – David was from the tribe of Judah) of the Heavenly Father and know that they are part of the Bride, which is the city of ‘Yerushalayim’, are able to judge righteously under the command of the Ancient of Days (cf. Revelation 21:2, 9-10).
Revelation 21:2.9-10:
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
In connection with King Solomon’s completion of the temple, I was led to the Bible passage from Matthew 6:6.
Matthew 6:6:
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
This biblical passage is about the importance of completing the personal realm in the true relationship with the Heavenly Father, which also points to the dimension of the Hebrew letter ‘Thaw’, which at the same time can be seen in relation to the crossing of Jacob’s arms.
In order to reach the realm of true relationship with the Heavenly Father, it is necessary that we ‘close the door’ from within to our personal space of relationship with the Father. When we do this, it is the LORD’s delight to reward us from the hidden place, for He loves to dwell in the ‘dark’ (cf. 1 Kings 8:12 i.c.w. Colossians 2:2-3).
1 Kings 8:12:
12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; …
12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; …
Colossians 2:2-3:
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The closed door is also a representation of humility and devotion before the Lord in prayer, which encompasses a divine relationship.
The closed room reveals the realm of God’s mysteries that bring forth vision in the form of wisdom and knowledge.
Our surrender and submission to the Heavenly Father releases His hand over us so that His plans for our lives become visible (cf. Isaiah 55:8-11).
Isaiah 55:8-11:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
