When discussing the determination of New Moons, whether by visibility or calculation, several questions arise regarding the truth of the matter as presented by Yahweh.
Many religious leaders have convinced a significant number of people that one must not only see the visible crescent of the new moon but also assess the greenness of the barley crop to determine the New Year.
These leaders assert they possess the true criteria for establishing Yahweh’s calendar and claim that their knowledge and understanding are derived directly from the Scriptures.
Additionally, these religious leaders assert that their method for determining New Moons is relatively straightforward and rooted in Scriptures. They claim it is so simple that Yahweh has made it accessible for almost anyone to determine the start of months and years, regardless of their circumstances.
However, not everyone may find it easy—if you do not have perfect vision or are not a farmer, you might encounter some challenges.
One might ask, if the New Moon formula is as simple as the religious leaders claim, then what do we say about the following questions that arise from such a straightforward formula?
• Where in the Scriptures is it explicitly stated that one must actually see the new moon crescent?
• From where should one observe it—Jerusalem or locally?
• Is it permissible to use eyeglasses, binoculars, or a telescope to view the crescent?
• Can one observe the crescent from a mountaintop, and if so, what is the maximum allowable elevation?
• What if the sky is too cloudy to see the new moon crescent?
• If the new moon crescent is not seen from Jerusalem or the eastern coast of the United States but is visible in California, what should someone living in the USA do?
• Where in the Scriptures does it state that green ears of barley and a visible crescent are necessary to determine Abib 1?
• From where should the barley be observed—Jerusalem or locally?
• What happens if the barley is delayed for a month due to adverse weather conditions, such as high temperatures or drought?
• Can one truly know the absolute truth regarding Yahweh’s calendar?
• When in doubt, should we rely on Jewish religious leaders for authority?
If one reflects on the questions above, it might lead to the following considerations:
After contemplating the so-called simple formula, could it be that Yahweh has designed the calendar to be somewhat more complex for mankind to observe His Festival Days accurately?
Would Yahweh truly entrust flawed humanity, with its mental and physical limitations, to determine the visibility of thin lunar crescents for validating His sacred calendar?
Furthermore, would Yahweh rely on imperfect humans, consisting of both farmers and city dwellers, to establish the necessary degree of ripened barley along with the visible new moon crescent to determine the New Year according to Yahweh’s sacred calendar?
When all human misconceptions are set aside, it makes sense that if Yahweh commands us to do something, He fully expects us to understand His instructions clearly and to carry them out accurately and at the right time, without any doubt.
We must also remember that Yahweh is not the author of confusion.
For the deity (Yahweh) is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all assemblies of the saints. (1 Cor. 14:33)
Conversely, it is essential to recognize that there is someone who confuses and deceives:
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . (Rev. 20:10)
It is essential to recognize that, according to the Scriptures, Abraham was able to faithfully observe Yahweh’s statutes, which included the observance of the Festival Days. To keep these Festival Days accurately, Abraham would have needed to know how to correctly determine the new moons, particularly the new moon marking the New Year, Abib 1.
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, MY STATUTES, and my laws. (Gen 26:5)
One might argue that since Abraham was basically a nomad of sorts, Yahweh simply informed him about the beginning of the year and the subsequent Festival Days.
Another possibility to consider is that Yahweh taught Abraham how to use His celestial clock to determine the New Year and the Festival Days.
Has anyone ever considered that there is ancient evidence suggesting that Abraham possessed knowledge of astronomy and mathematics?
If you are curious about Abraham’s understanding of these subjects, you may want to explore New Moon Clarity, one of several posts that clarify the issue of visibility and calculation of new moons in Yahweh’s calendar.