Exodus 12:2

EXODUS 12:2

This verse continues the calendar reset by specifying that the month of Nisan (the first month) will mark Israel’s year. It anchors the Passover event within a redirected life lived in covenant relationship with God. The first month becomes the starting point for a community whose identity is defined by deliverance, freedom, and a future oriented around God’s promises. The practical effect is a reorientation of time, work, and worship—an annual cadence that repeatedly points back to God’s saving action. The language emphasizes that God’s acts of redemption create new beginnings and new types of memory for a people.

Central themes include covenant fidelity, redemption, and the creation of a liturgical memory. Time as a gift from God becomes a vehicle for divine revelation and communal formation. It also anticipates the broader biblical pattern of establishing holy days and festivals to remind God’s people of his saving deeds.

In today’s terms, this invites communities to cultivate meaningful rituals that mark beginnings—new ministries, new habits of generosity, new seasons of learning. Practical idea: start every month with a moment of reflection and a concrete action of gratitude or service, aligning actions with God’s redemptive work. It’s a reminder that every ordinary month can become a reminder of God’s extraordinary grace.

Cross-References: Psalm 90:12; Luke 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26