Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar in your tents! They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand. (Deuteronomy 33:18-19)
In these verses, Moses blessed two tribes who were, apparently, in somewhat of a partnership. Tradition teaches that the tribe of Zebulun engaged in profitable maritime enterprises thus fulfilling Jacob’s prophecy that, “Zebulun will dwell at the shore of the sea.” Due to their prosperity, the people of Zebulun were able to support their brethren from the tribe of Issachar. The tribe of Issachar supposedly dedicated its time to “tents of study” hence the statement, “Rejoice in your tents.” This notion is borne out by what is said of them later: “The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” (1 Chronicles 12:32).
If this partnership did exist, and I believe it did, this cooperation between the two has a rich lesson to present to us. If one is supposed to work hard to support another, shouldn’t we expect that the second party will provide a benefit for the first party? In other words, if Issachar wasn’t able to spend time in the tents of study, how would the people of Israel know what to do in terms of the times? If the people of Zebulun weren’t willing to support their brethren in this endeavor, how could Issachar have remained committed to searching out the Scriptures? It seems to me that the people of Zebulon, in an ideal scenario, would have considered it worthwhile to support their brethren in temporal means so that they might enjoy the spiritual benefit of those who studied God’s Word. And if that was true then, it must be true now.
It is a fact that God raises up certain people to prosper in material wealth in order to support those He has assigned to “tents of study.” One should not envy the other in their pursuits because all have been called by God and appointed by Him to function in their purpose — not in the other guy’s purpose. Though it is “apples and oranges” as they say, consider the confusion that has arisen from men and women exchanging roles in today’s society. God made men to function in a certain way and the same is true for women. We may not like it but there is a reason He established things the way He did, and when we submit to His ways, there is order and prosperity so that all may benefit.
So then, let us be content to function in the role He has assigned to us and for us. If we are here to support others in their God-ordained pursuits, let us do it with all our might. If we are called to support others in their spiritual life, then let’s make sure to continue in the work and be grounded in His Word and be led by His Spirit. As Paul said, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments