JOSEPH #37 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #19 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB#8
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3633
JOSEPH #37
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #19
LAST WORDS OF JACOB#8
6. ZEBULUN #1
The name Zebulun means “dwell” (also translated “honor”) and sounds much like the Hebrew words for “gift” and “endowed.”
Zebulun was the sixth son of Jacob by his wife Leah and the tenth of all Jacob’s sons.
Zebulun’s birth came during the ongoing rivalry between sisters Rachel and Leah for their husband’s attention. So upon Zebulun’s birth, Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me because I have borne him six sons” (Genesis 30:20, NASB).
To Zebulun, Jacob said, “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon” (Genesis 49:13).
Zebulun had three sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel (Genesis 46:14). Their descendants became the tribe of Zebulun. Centuries later, the tribe of Zebulun was given an allotment within the Promised Land. Their eastern border was the Sea of Galilee, and their western border eventually stretched to the Mediterranean (Joshua 19:10–16).
This amazing gift of seafaring was given exclusively to Zebulun.
Before he died, Moses also blessed the tribe of Zebulun, saying, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out” (Deuteronomy 33:18). Once settled in their land, the tribe of Zebulun became traders and sailors and profited much by the seagoing trade.
During the wandering in the wilderness, the tribe of Zebulun was led by Eliab son of Elon, and they numbered 57,400 (Numbers 2:7). During the time of the judges, the prophetess Deborah advised the commander of the army to take men from Naphtali and Zebulun to go against the enemy (Judges 4:4–7). They were considered brave risk-takers (Judges 5:18).
What is today's lesson about Zebulun?
Although he took part in the murderous conspiracy against Joseph, Zebulun was with his 9 other conspiring brothers forgiven by Joseph.
He was also a ministry partner of Judah together with Issachar. Some modern commentators say if Judah represented a people of praise and Issachar were wise teachers and judges, Zebulun then symbolized the much-needed financiers of his brothers' ministry and evangelists too in their far outreaches by boat.
All the twelve tribes of Israel, founded in Genesis, are still prominent in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 21:12, John describes the New Jerusalem, and Zebulun is represented: “It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Zebulun’s name is inscribed in heaven, not because of the good he did or the life he lived. He is important in heaven because God chose him to be part of His plan to redeem mankind.
We can learn from Zebulun’s life that God’s plans far supersede our ideas of why we are here. Despite our mistakes and rebellion, God’s plans go forward (Isaiah 46:9–11). He is working out His will for His creation, and we are each a part of that grand scheme.
