LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #70 : ISSACHAR
written by: Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3571
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #70
JACOB'S PROPHECIES ABOUT THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL #5
ISSACHAR
(Gen. 49: 14-15)
Issachar: A strong donkey.
“Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;
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.
a. Issachar is a strong donkey: Issachar was a large tribe – third in size according to the Numbers 26 census.
b. And became a band of slaves: Because of their size and abundance, they were often targets of oppressive foreign armies who put them into servitude. Thus, they became a band of slaves.
“The meaning seems to be that Issachar was strong but docile and lazy. He would enjoy the good land assigned him but would not strive for it. Therefore, eventually, he would be pressed into servitude and the mere bearing of burdens for his masters.” (Leupold)
From the aforesaid, we can discern there is a positive and negative aspect to his symbol as a "strong donkey".
It means either a strong will and mind ( as teachers of Israel ) or beast of burden ( as slaves of others ).
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Issachar (Hebrew: יִשָּׂשכָר, Modern: Yissakhar, Tiberian: Yiśśāšḵār) was one of the twelve tribes of Israel and one of the ten lost tribes.
In Jewish tradition, the descendants of Issachar were seen as being dominated by religious scholars and influential teachers.
There were mighty men of valour among their tribe.
1 Chronicles 7:1-5 lists the generations of the tribe of Issachar, totalling 87,000 "mighty men of valour".[8] 1 Chronicles 12:32 describes the tribe as men who "had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do"
But they were dispersed by the Assyrians although they were the largest group and became one of the ten lost tribes of Israel.
As a tribe, they indeed lived up to the prophecies of Jacob.
What is our take-home lesson today?
1. Issachar's blessing was to be an ass: to serve, bow, protect the sheep, and perform hard work. Yet, his very name implies that he will be rewarded for this seemingly mundane blessing. To serve one another is a blessing, and it is the spirit of prophecy because those who serve are doing the deeds of Yeshua.
2. The Issachar Anointing is the unique anointing of the men of Issachar that enabled them to understand the times and seasons to influence and lead Israel to establish the greatest dynasty of all time, perpetuated by the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. The territory
allocated to Issachar stretched from the Jordan River in the east to Mount Carmel on the west, near to the Mediterranean coast, including the fertile Esdraelon plain between present-day Lower Galilee and Samaria.
This area is the fruit and bread bowl of Israel.
Thus as teachers of the Word, they will be dispensing spiritual nourishment as we hunger and thirst after righteousness.
4. Lastly there was a fantastic prophecy by Isaiah relating to Jesus' ministry in Galilee in the area around Zebulun and Naphtali - both territories of which are joined to Issachar's allotment.
Earlier in his prophecy, Isaiah has been telling his people of their sin, and because of their refusal to repent, he tells them also of the coming captivity at the hands of Babylon.
But now he tells them that there will come a day when their land is restored to them, and Jerusalem is once again light to the nations.
Read New Living Translation of Isaiah 9:1
"Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory."
And Issachar bearing the teacher's anointing have to rise up from the wilful stubbornness of his comfort zone and join his ministry partners to proclaim the good news of the gospel - that Jesus the Light of the World has come and His glory has risen upon us all.
