It's time to dare to hope in the dark. It's time to believe God can move even if you are at your lowest, darkest breaking point. Let's talk about it.
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. Psalms 18:28-30
Prophetic Insight: Hanakkuh, the Feast of Dedication
I want to share some prophetic insights from the Jewish calendar. If you're new here, welcome! I occasionally enjoy diving into the biblical and prophetic meanings behind the Jewish calendar to discover what God is saying to us as followers of Jesus today.
This year, Hanukkah began the evening of December 25th—which of course fell on Christmas day. It ended on January 2, 2025. Hannakkuh means "dedication" and is also known as the Feast of Dedication and the Festival of Lights.
Although Christmas and Hannukah have now passed, this celebration led us into a whole new year, 2025. Let's talk about what it means prophetically for us.
Daring to Hope in the Dark
This feast is a time to celebrate the re-dedication of the Holy Temple after miraculous victories by the Jewish people from 165-164 BC. To put it into a little more context, this happened during the 400 "silent years" before Jesus arrived on the scene.
Though greatly outnumbered, the Jewish people, led by Judas Maccabees, secured a victory against their enemies and regained the Temple that had been desecrated by worship to other gods. They rebuilt the altar and rededicated the Temple on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.
As the translators of the Net bible states, "From a historical standpoint, it was the last great deliverance the Jewish people had experienced, and it came at a time when least expected.
Josephus ends his account of the institution of the festival with the following statement: “And from that time to the present we observe this festival, which we call the festival of Lights, giving this name to it, I think, from the fact that the right to worship appeared to us at a time when we hardly dared hope for it” (Ant. 12.7.6 [12.325])."
The victory was truly a miracle in the dark. But there's more to the story ...
The Hanukkah Miracle
When the Jewish people rededicated the temple, they needed a critical component: oil for the temple lamp. According to the tradition, the lamp must always be kept burning.
The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Lev. 6:12
However, they only had enough oil to keep the lamp burning for one day.
The Hanukkah miracle is that the small amount of oil lasted for 8 full days!
The lamp miraculously burned in the dark when all hope seemed to be lost.
When the odds were stacked against God's people, he delivered them.
When they faced overwhelming lack, they experienced the supernatural power of multiplication.
When they were in the darkest of times, God gave them a light, a miracle in the dark.
The Light of the World
Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, otherwise known as the Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights (John 10:22).
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world…”
Yeshua is the light of heaven! He is our lamp that will never go out.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23
They were celebrating a miracle of light, but the ultimate miracle was walking among them: Yeshua, the savior of the world.
It’s time to expect your miracle. Even if you don’t know how, when, or where. Make room in your heart for the Light of the World to surprise you.
4 Prophetic Keys Moving into 2025
Have Uncomfortable faith
During this season of miracles, it may feel illogical to you—it may feel uncomfortable to stretch your faith—but it’s time to HOPE. His word will not return void.
When you feel between a rock and a hard place, God will help you break through in a way only He can accomplish.
Let Got Light the First Love Fire Again
God wants to pour fresh oil into you that will refuel your relationship with him.
Even when you want to give up, he will never give up on you.
The Hanukkah miracle took place during the 400 “silent years” before Jesus arrived on the scene. When God seems silent, he’s still preparing your miracle. Will you keep going? Will you expect him to move?
He will light the first love fire in your heart again. He will help you make it through the dark silent night. Your miracle is coming.
When it feels like your lamp light is burning low and you are running out of oil, you will experience the miracle of multiplication and supernatural increase. When you are between a rock and a hard place, you will find the grace to break through…. It’s time to see miracles multiplied.
Prepare for New Beginnings and Resurrection Life
I think it is interesting to note that Hannakuh fell on Christmas Day and ended on January 2, the start of the new year in 2025. As we start a NEW BEGINNING this January on our Gregorian calendar, the 8th and final day of Hannakuh starting our new year speaks of a double new beginning.
There is a pattern with the number eight (8) in Scripture and biblical history. It often represents new beginnings and resurrection.
The lamp oil lasted for 8 days.
8 people were on the ark with Noah.
After his resurrection, Jesus revealed himself alive 8 times just before his ascension into heaven. (Source: Biblestudy.org)
The oil marked a NEW BEGINNING of the 2nd temple. The 8 people on the Ark started a new beginning after the FLOOD. Jesus's resurrection marked the ultimate new beginning.
We can learn from this that after a HARD season (WAR, FLOODS, DEATH), God can bring a NEW BEGINNING TO US and RESURRECT that which has died. Hope again as we move into a new year.
Don't Doubt in the Dark
It takes an impossible situation to see a miracle. Do not doubt in the current darkness what Jesus said in the light! You will find yourself rejoicing on the other side.
Seeds must be planted in the depths of dark, cold soil to one day spring up and grow. If you have labored and don't see any signs of life breaking through from the ground, don't lose heart. Hope in the dark! The blessing will come. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.” Haggai 2:19
Hope Again in 2025
It's time to hope again, It's time to expect miracles in the dark, new beginnings, and God's resurrection power to come upon your life in this season.
I pray this word encourages you! Here's a prayer you can pray: Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to hope again! As I move into a new year, I pray for you to create miracles in the dark. Lighten my path. I pray you will bring new beginnings and resurrect the things in my life that are now meant to bloom again. Help me to walk in step with you throughout 2025, Holy Spirit! Amen
P.S. I can't wait to share about new opportunities for you to grow in hearing God's voice and the prophetic gift within community in 2025! Be on the lookout for updates on my social media pages.
P.S. Have you gotten my new book, Prophetic Promises, yet? Check it out here! It's all about navigating your adventure to God's promises for your life. I hope it encourages you! All the love,
MARIEL VILLARREAL
About the Author: MARIEL VILLARREAL
is an author, speaker, and prophetic mentor. Her heart is to encourage this generation with right-now prophetic words that reignite hope during the waiting between a prophetic promise and its fulfillment. Through her ministry, the Embolden Co., she holds seasonal prophetic mentorships, training programs, and retreats to empower people around the world to develop their spiritual gifts and hear God for their lives—so they can bring revival to the nations. Follow her on Instagram here.
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Blog tags: Prophetic, prophetic words, prophetic word 2025, Hebrew year 5785, Hebraic calendar, Christian Prophetic ministry, prophetic word of the year, prophetic gift, daily devotional, prophetic words 2024, prophetic message, prophetic word 2025, Prophetic Insight 2025: Miracles in the Dark
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