Genesis 49
April 30, 2023
Genesis 49
Chapter 49
Blessings/Prophecies
Part III
Issachar: Jacob’s 9th son, by Leah, sekhari, “my hire” (Gen 30:18).
Gen 49:14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
Gen 49:15 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.
Gen 49:14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;
The words translated “strong donkey” are- hòamor gerem, literally, bony ass, which describe a powerful and strong boned beast of burden.
The word for “two burdens” is – mishpath- stall (dual) for cattle, sheepfold, burden.
What we see in vs 14 is a very strong beast of burden, built and equipped for work, laying between two stalls, resting.
Gen 49:15 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.
Issachar was located in the fertile broad pleasant plain of Esdraelon; The Jezreel Valley, which was also the richest portion of the land. In this position they were often subject to invading armies.
Jacob was predicting that the tribe of Issachar would submit to the Canaanite invaders, who would fasten the yoke upon them. Instead of fighting, the men of this tribe would submissively allow themselves to become slaves of the peoples of the land. They would prefer shame and slavery to courageous action. This is exactly what happened in the days of the Judges.
This is sad considering they were a very numerically strong tribe. Only Judah and Dan were stronger. They were numbered at 64,300 fighting men in Num 26.
By the days of King David, their number had grown to 87,000 (1 Chr 7:5), and they are described as follows:
1Ch 7:5 Now their brethren among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, listed by their genealogies, eighty-seven thousand in all.
Notable Mention: 1 Chronicles 12:32…
1Ch 12:32 of 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;
They were united in their support for David (and thus the Lord) in placing David as King over all Israel in place of Saul….
Issachar is included with Zebulun in Moses’s blessing in Deut 33;
Deu 33:18 And of Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents!
They are also sealed in Revelation 7…
Dan:
Gen 49:16 “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent (snake) by the way (well trodden path or road), A viper (ader- poisonous) by the path, That bites (strikes, stings) the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward (fall behind).
Gen 49:18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
Dan is another example of Calling vs Obedience.
Dan is called to be a judge of his people and bring justice (his name means judge), but in practice his tribe became a venomous serpent, hiding and lying in wait, striking the horses heels WITH THE GOAL of knocking the rider backwards.
The first major practice of idolatry appeared in the tribe of Dan (Judge 18:30).
His tribe was the first to fall into idolatry, and led the way for other tribes to follow.
In 931 B.C. Jeroboam set up a golden calf in Dan to encourage pagan worship. (1 Kings 12:20-33). He not only set up idols, but appointed priests and servants to worship and serve these false gods SO THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT GO TO JERUSALEM AND WORSHIP AND TURN THEIR HEARTS TO THE LORD!
The tribe, and land, of Dan fell wholeheartedly into this idolatry, and continued thus until the captivity.
Dan is not among the tribes sealed in Rev 7, which is commonly attributed to this. Deut 29 says the Lord will blot out the name of those who turn from serving Him and follow the gods of the pagans whose land the Lord gave them.
Dan’s name is literally blotted out of the tribes who are sealed in Rev 7 to be worldwide evangelists for Jesus.
Even his genealogy shows God’s editing: Comparing the names of his sons in Gen 46:23 vs Num 26:42 some of his sons’ names were blotted out.
His tribe is even mentioned dead last in Num 10:25; Jos 19:47-49; 1 Chr 27:16-22.
Not listed in Revelation 7…
This would lead to the conclusion that God is done with the tribe of Dan.
-HOWEVER-
Ezekiel 48 describes land allotments during Millennium: Portions allotted to Dan FIRST, along with 11 other tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh), with Levites apportioned a place in the Holy District belonging to the Prince…..
12 land portions, 12 tribes, with Levites apportioned as the Lord’s inheritance living in the Princes Holy District, with only the descendants of Zadok serving in the Presence of the Lord…
And Dan has a place there! He’s been restored to fulfill the initial call of God;
Gen 49:16 “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
I suspect the omission of Dan in the 12 tribes sealed in Revelation 7 brings on the pleading cry of Gen 48:18;
Gen 49:18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
Dan, who received the Godly call to bring righteous judgment, then fell into the worst kind of sin his people could muster, was put in the penalty box for THOUSANDS OF YEARS!!!!
And yet this verse still applies;
Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB;
Rom 11:27 FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
Rom 11:28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Dan WILL be restored, but first he must be redeemed!
Redemption first, only then can restoration be made. (Adam in the penalty box)
This brings up the matter of God’s faithfulness to complete His word, no matter the time frame.
There’s a question asked in Romans 3;
Rom 3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man is a liar. As it is written: “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND MAY OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”
Act 15:13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
Act 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
Act 15:16 ‘AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP;
Act 15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.’
Act 15:18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
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