Israel’s Prophecy for Issachar

Israel’s Prophecy for Issachar

Genesis 49: ¹⁴ “Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;
¹⁵ He saw that rest was good,
And that the land was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,
And became a band of slaves.

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Issachar was the son that Leah had after being barren for years. Issachar means “Reward.”  Leah was so happy that she was no longer barren that she felt GOD had “rewarded” her. She traded mandrakes to Rachel for a night with Jacob.

 

My Observations:

• Issachar is referred to as a “strong donkey”” meaning he was a very hard worker.
• Issachar was wise enough to rest between receiving payments.
• Issachar became a tribe that was hard working, but never became slaves of any kind.

 

Hard work and reward for the work is attributed to Issachar. Israel must have seen his son work hard in silence, never complaining about the work. This was Israel’s ninth son, but the fifth son of Leah.

 

I can’t help but notice that Israel named all of Leah’s children together during his blessing. He wasn’t just trying to remember them and forgot the order. He was very intentional in his blessing order. Issachar was older than Zebulun, yet was named after him. He was one of the younger sons, so he may have hung out with the children of Leah and Joseph and Benjamin. GOD blessed Issachar.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Issachar’s hard work?
• Have you ever felt that your life had a lot of hard work?
• Can you wait for the blessing your hard work is going to bring from GOD?

Israel’s Prophecy for Zebulun

 Israel’s Prophecy for Zebulun

Genesis 49: 13 “Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.

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Not much is said about Zebulun in the Bible. Leah praised GOD for having her sixth son. After Judah, she became barren. Rachel and Leah sent in their handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah. Other children were born. Then came Issachar and Zebulun. Leah was no longer barren.

 

My Observations:

• Israel’s prophecy of Zebulun had to be inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT.
• Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth son of Leah, making him one of the younger of the children.
• Zebulun was closer in age to Joseph and Dinah and may have spent more time with the children of Leah and the Joseph.

 

Zebulun did in fact move close to the sea, fulfilling the prophecy of Israel. This tribe would be known for maritime trade. What is strange is the order Israel chose to present his blessing. Dan, Naphtali, Gad Asher and Issachar were older than Zebulun, yet Israel spoke his name before them.

 

There must have been a special anointing on Zebulun for being mentioned earlier. Israel’s blessing was short and to the point. As brief as this mention was, so is the brevity of mentions in the Bible. But GOD has Zebulun’s name written on a structure in heaven. GOD valued him. HE values you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the prophecy of Zebulun?
• Have you ever felt insignificant?
• Do you know that GOD values you as extremely significant more than you could possibly imagine?

Leah’s Thirty-Three

 Leah’s Thirty-Three

Genesis 46: ⁸ Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. ⁹ The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰ The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. ¹¹ The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹² The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. ¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.

 

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Jacob was a swindler who cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing from Isaac. He tried to get Rachel as his wife, but ran into an equal swindler named Laban who gave Jacob Leah as his wife. Jacob had worked seven years as a deal to get Rachel. Jacob did not love Leah, yet he had the most children through her.

 

My Observations:

• Leah had the most children even though she was not wanted.
• Leah prayed and GOD heard her and gave her children.
• Leah gave birth to Levi from which Moses would be born and Judah, from which JESUS would come as a human.

 

Moving to Egypt required an account of Israel’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. An entire nation was about to move to Egypt, a land of unbelievers. Genesis is the book of beginnings. This move to Egypt was the beginning of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Jacob tried to circumvent tradition by working for a swindler. He got Leah as his wife and did not know that GOD’s promise would be through the one, he did not choose or like. We may feel the same way. There are things placed in our lives that we did not choose or like. BUT GOD’s plan does not look like our selfish plan.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the lineage of Jacob through Leah?
• Do you think your plan will work if it is not GOD’s will?
• Can you accept that GOD has a plan that may look different than your logic and is greater than your imagination?