God’s Calendar: The True Meaning of Rosh HaShana

A short commentary on the Feast of Trumpets known to the Jews as Rosh Hashana.

Rosh Hashana means “The head of the year” – namely the beginning of the year. It’s the Jewish New Year. Yet Biblically the feast that we are told to be celebrating has absolutely nothing to do with the beginning of the year as it was the first day of the seventh month.

“…Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord…’” (Leviticus 23:23-25)

The calendar God intended Israel to follow had Passover as the first feast on the fourteenth day of the first month. In fact, no holiday was prescribed for the head of the year at all.

There are many traditions as for why the Feast of Trumpets is now the head of the year, but none of them are Biblical whatsoever.

However, the trumpets element of this unique feast is extremely important. The Bible tells us that God ordered Moses to make two silver trumpets. These trumpets were formed in order to direct the camp in its journey from Mt. Sinai towards the Promised Land, as well as the calling for the attention of the people.

“…And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps….” (Numbers 10:1-2)

I believe that God is using Israel and the Church as the two silver trumpets calling for the attention of the world and preparing those that are willing to repent to get ready for their journey to the real Promised Land – The presence of the Lord!

Are you a trumpet? Are you living like one? Do people see in you the need for them to change?

“….For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?…” (1 Corinthians 14:8)

We are to be ready soon to our journey to our Promised Land. A very short, yet most awaited one – the Rapture. Indeed the trumpets are sounding! Can you hear them?

“…. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed….” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

This teaching can also be found in Spanish here.