Have you ever thought
of the meaning and symbolism of January and 2013? If not then stick to your
seat and start reading. January being the first month marks a new year that is
a new beginning for most people and every beginning prompts them to
thoughtfully consider past events that have accumulated to this present moment.
Each of their moments stack up, one upon the other only to meet their present
day, and then these moments unfold into their future. The month of January was
named after Janus, a two headed Roman god who guarded doors and gates. One of his heads was said to look towards the
past, the other to future, when Romans first borrowed their calendar from Greeker,
they had a year only 304 days long and divided into ten months, beginning with
march.
History has it that January and February were added by a king of Rome
called Numa Pompilius in about 700 BC. He made January the eleventh month and
February the twelfth. This calendar though more accurate than the old one, was
still not good enough. By the time of Julius Caesar, the dates were 3 months
ahead of seasons. So, in 46 BC, Caesar ordered that the calendar be brought up
to date, and in doing so made January the first month and February the second. Caesar’s
calendar, called the Julian calendar was used for 1500 years.
January 1st is
normally known as the New Year’s Day and is most celebrated as holiday in many countries. The Scottish “Hogmanay” is famous all over the world, and the custom of letting
in New Year is by joining hands at mid night to sing auld lang syne is observed
in Britain and many other English speaking countries.
New Year’s Day is a great
time for family parties and reunions, and a time for New Year resolutions-not
all which, however are kept for very long! In big cities of world, many people
gather in a main square to welcome the New Year. In London, Trafalgar square is
the traditional gathering place, while New Yorker crowd into Times Square. In Japan,
New Year is celebrated for three days. In India, January 1st is a public
holiday.
Quote: by Leland B. Jacobs:
January opens the box of the year and brings out days that are bright and clear
With the number 13, it
signifies great promise and blessing by God in the Christian kingdom. Recapping
the story of Abraham, we all know how God called him to be a “father of many
nations” as well as the “father of our faith.” God promised Abraham that he was
to have a child, and from that child’s linage would come kings and rulers of
“many nations” as well as the Messiah---“the Seed to come.” (See Geneses
16-17.)
Abraham and his wife
Sarah were childless and in old age at the time God gave them the Promise.
Through their many years of frustration of being childless, they tried to help
things along by having a child through Sarah’s slave girl, Hagar. Through this
act, their son Ishmael was born.
Years later God came
again to Abraham and made the same Promise of Blessing. God iterated that the
promised son born would be from his own wife. Nine months later, Isaac was
born. And this is where the understanding of the number “13” comes from. All of
the ramifications of the Lord’s calling of Abraham and him receiving the
Promise is wrapped-up in the number “13”. Therefore keep the entire Scripture
story in mind as we proceed.
In Genesis 16:15-17 it
reveals that when “Hagar bore Ishmael, Abraham was 86 years old.” Then “when
Abraham was 99 years old the Lord appeared to him” and iterated the Promise
again---that He will give Abraham a son by his wife. I will bless her, and she
will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” (See Genesis
17:1-22.)
At 99 years old, God’s Promise came. At 86 years old, Abraham tried to bring about
Gods Promise. Therefore, 99 minus 86 equals 13. This is “The Number 13 Promise”.
The Number 13 Promise
is a “two-fold” promise. It always involves man and it always involves God. It
always has seasons, times, circumstances in which God and man participate.
The number “13” does
not mean “evil,” but rather it is a most powerful God-given promise that will
change the world for ever.
This is the first in
the series of articles on all the months of the year. Watch out for “FEBRUARY’.
By: Francisca Stokes
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