Rosh Hashanah 5777, Silver Trumpets & Rehoboth

It was a set up. Yes, the Lord does that, sometimes 🙂

I was supposed to speak at a small group a month earlier. However, owing to a mis-communication of dates, I had to seek this group’s understanding to postpone. The organiser was extremely gracious. Without any sign of frustration or disappointment, she assured me, “God is sovereign. He knows everything.” And indeed He is, and He does.

The replacement date would be 23 September. When that day arrived, I would realise that exactly 3 years ago, on 23 September 2013, the Lord caught my attention through a simple arrow on the MRT platform. Through that, He told me that the line blocking the arrow would be removed soon so I could move forward into what He had prepared for me.

Silver Trumpets

After sharing the message of Archippus Awakening that evening, two young ladies were prompted to pray for me. The first impression received was that of the silver trumpets in Numbers 10:1-10. That was a very clear affirmation for me – Archippus Awakening is to sound a clarion call to awaken the saints, to gather the people of God, to rally the troops.

A while later, I realised that Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish new year, was just around the corner. Interestingly, Rosh Hashanah is also known as Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, where the shofar or trumpet is sounded to awaken everyone from their slumber. Sounds like Archippus Awakening to me!

Not only that, Rosh Hashanah this year would be celebrated on 3 October (beginning sundown of 2 October)! After the ‘arrow & line’ encounter, I sought the Lord through prayer and fasting. 3 years ago, on the morning of 3 October 2013, the instruction came through Joshua 3:4, to leave everything, to cross over into my next assignment. When I did that in 3 months, I moved into the assignment of Archippus Awakening.

This year is especially significant because we cross into the Hebrew Year 5777, ending 5776 (the 70th Jubilee since Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land). In other words, this Rosh Hashanah begins a new cycle and a new season. As I recorded in “Archippus Awakening Enters the ‘Third’ Day”, quoting my July 2016 Newsletter, “Going forward, I sense that I am standing at the threshold of the next level and it is indeed exciting.” Later, the Lord affirmed that through Joshua 1:11. And 3 days later, we entered into our 3rd year, and into a new season.
But what season might this be?

Rehoboth

As the sisters prayed for me, a second reference was made – Genesis 26, the account of Isaac re-digging the wells, encountering resistance, and finally finding his own space, thereby naming the well ‘Rehoboth’ (Gen 26:22). Unknown to them, that same account of Rehoboth was brought to mind that very afternoon. Another affirmation by the Lord! And once more, on Sunday, just before Rosh Hashanah, a guest speaker preached from Genesis 26 and Rehoboth was mentioned again!

As I shared in my September 2016 Newsletter, I believe as Archippus Awakening entered into the 3rd ‘day’, we entered into a season of Rehoboth, of spaciousness and fruitfulness. We are to sound the trumpet even more boldly and clearly, awakening the saints to know and fulfil their God-given kingdom assignments.

I started this post by saying that this has all been a set up by the Lord. Truly, the timing of God is something we cannot generate or orchestrate. All we are invited to do is to flow with His prophetic timeline and allow Him to work in and through us. What an honour and a privilege, for at the end of the day, all glory belongs to Him!

The days ahead are indeed exciting. As always, I have no idea where this is leading. My part is just to be obedient and to keep doing what I have been tasked to do – my kingdom assignment. I am just so thankful that along the way, the Lord sends encouragement my way, cheering me on. In that, I am assured that He loves and cares for me, knowing that I experience many lonely days, with much doubt and anxiety. (Yes, ministers do doubt.)

For sure, the trumpets of Archippus Awakening will be sounding, loud and clear, awakening the saints to know and fulfil their God-given kingdom assignments! This message may not be welcomed by one and all – some churches or ministries might even feel threatened – but that’s perfectly fine. The Lord will make space for us. He will open the right doors and the right hearts. This is the season of Rehoboth!