Rejoice Zebulun, in Your Going Out,
Issachar, in Your Tents
33: 18-19
Rejoice Zebulun, in your going out, Issachar, in your tents DIG: How does Moses confirm the blessing conferred by Jacob on Zebulun? What does he add to it? Did these two tribes have access to the Mediterranean Sea when entering the Promised Land? How would that change during the thousand-year Messianic Kingdom?
REFLECT: How are you blessed in the course of your daily life? When you bring your sacrifices (tithes and offerings) to your place of worship, how do you enjoy your “family feast?” How do you think things will change for you during the Messianic Kingdom? What can you imagine that you will be doing? What ministry would you like to have at that time?
On the day Moses died, he delivered his final blessing
and then ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Promise from afar.
Zebulun and Issachar are described as two tribes who will receive rich blessings from land and sea. For Zebulun Moses said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents (33:18). The two phrases going out, and in your tents, cover all of daily life, a merism (polar elements that signify a totality): going to work, coming home to rest. Moshe was blessing every aspect of their lives, what we might call the routine tasks of life.699 Peoples they call to the mountain – there they offer righteous sacrifices. For they suckle the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand (33:19). This is a picture of worship followed by a communal feast, but the Jews had to bring their sacrifices to Mount Tabor (Joshua 19:12 and 22; Judges 4:6 and 12), and later the Temple, where they could enjoy family feasts.
When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, Zebulun and Issachar had no outlet to the Mediterranean Sea. But during the Messianic Kingdom, they will have plenty of access to the sea (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Lh – Zebulun Will Live by the Seashore and Become a Haven for Ships) because the topography of Isra’el will change at that time.
The Millennial River, a massive river, will begin at the Temple then flow down to the city of Jerusalem, where it splits, half heading east to the Dead Sea, and the other half heading west to the Mediterranean Sea. Rivers will characterize the Millennial Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8; Ezeki’el 47:1-12). Therefore, ships will sail on the Millennial River in the Kingdom. But while there may be ships on the Mediterranean, there will be no ships of war. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them (see the commentary on Isaiah Ge – Your Eyes Will See the King in His Beauty).
Dear Heavenly Father, You are such a blessing to have as a Father. You are the best Father that ever could be (John 1:12)! How wonderful that You are willing to father all who chose to lovingly come to You and follow Your Word. Praise You that being part of Your family is open to all (Ephesians 2:13-14), no matter the color of skin, rich or poor, male or female, young or old (Galatians 3:26-28). Your becoming our Father cannot be bought with money, nor by beauty nor ancestral heritage, but You choose to adopt as Your children those who choose to love You (Romans 10:9-10). You graciously offer the gift of redemption to all who love you and accept Yeshua’s sacrifice in their place. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21).
What a wonderful eternal blessing You are! Others may laugh at us. We may be scorned, beaten or ridiculed for our trust in You; but it is well worth the eternal joy that we will have with You in heaven. The Ruach Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, also heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah – if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:16-18). We love You all the time! In Yeshua’s name and His power of resurrection. Amen
Leave A Comment