Not Always Our Desire

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.  Genesis 49:15

Among Jacob's last words is this verse to Issachar, and it speaks to us these many years later. We can also see the later meanings that would come for all of Israel and not just the one tribe. Did 400 years of slavery in Egypt begin with Issachar? If the words of Jacob were prophetic, and it seems they are, then what did Issachar do to get this started?

According to the preceding verse, Issachar lay down like a donkey between two burdens. We do not know what they were, but apparently he bowed his shoulder to one of them - probably a decision made without consulting the Lord. Issachar may have chosen to do what he wanted instead of what the Lord desired of him. A choice we face often ourselves. In choosing his desire over the Lord's will, which is the heart of sin, he became enslaved. Sin does that to people.

However, we can know that this is not a permanent condition by a little jaunt back to Revelation 7:7 where we find 12,000 sealed from the tribe of Issachar. The tribe made it (will make it) to the end times, unlike other tribes who fell to sin along the way and are not found in that list. (The tribe of Dan, for example.) We too may fall into a trap of sin brought on by a decision to go our way instead of the Lord's way, and we can find forgiveness and mercy in our Lord. Amen!

Have a great weekend in Christ!

Bucky