LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #69 : ZEBULUN
written by: Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3570
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #69
JACOB'S PROPHECIES ABOUT THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL #4
ZEBULUN
When we study the map of the tribal allotments given to the 12 sons of Jacob by God under the leadership of Joshua in Shiloh, we pause with wonder and even scepticism when we study Zebulun's lot.
His territory is not quite by the sea although he receives a prophecy his descendants will be a maritime and seafaring people.
But God works in mysterious ways beyond our natural understanding.
ZEBULUN ( A Haven for Ships)
“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
a. Zebulun: Jacob now skipped the birth order, moving to the tenth-born and ninth-born sons, but keeping his focus on the sons born of Leah.
The tribe of Zebulun was noted for its faithfulness to David, supplying the largest number of soldiers to David’s army of any single tribe: Of Zebulun, there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, an expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks (1 Chronicles 12:33).
b. He shall become a haven for ships: The tribe of Zebulun seems to have settled the piece of land sitting between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Literally, shall dwell by the haven of the sea can be translated looking towards the sea.
Zebulun did look to the sea, both to the east and west.
This son of Jacob would later be given the land between the Mediterranean Sea and Sea of Galilee (Genesis 49:13).
Zebulun will also have land that extends to the sea in the future Millennial Kingdom (Ezekiel 48:1–8, 23–27).
What lesson do we glean from a study of Zebulun?
His tribe was a ministry partner of Judah together with Issachar.
These three tribes faced the entrance into the Tabernacle of Moses and their positioning was both prophetic and strategic as they were destined to be ministry partners in guarding the Ark of Covenant and the tent of meeting whenever these structures were dismantled as they travelled with all their people following God's glory cloud in the Wilderness.
It helped that they were blood brothers from the same mother Leah.
Once in the Promised Land, the tribe of Zebulun was positioned between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.
Thus they became the backup providers and suppliers of provision for those tribes that bordered the Mediterranean Sea like Manasseh.
If they were faithful in their service, one day they would become seafarers ( the only tribe singled for such an honour as Israel never had a naval heritage ).
Their emblem of a ship is symbolic of their prophetic destiny. And in the New Testament, they were likened to evangelists of the gospel supporting Judah ( worshippers ) and Isacchar ( teachers ). As evangelists, they were to travel far and wide to spread the good news of the gospel of Christ to the nations in fulfilment of the Great Commission.
