Word of Encouragement (05/05/2022)
Jacob’s prayer for Zebulun is mainly concerned with his dwelling place: “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.”
The problem, which has not gone unnoticed, is that the inheritance Zebulun received in Canaan was not along the seashore. They were landlocked between Asher to the west, which was along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Issachar to the east, which was along the Sea of Galilee. We can say that Jacob’s prophecy was wrong or there is another explanation. One says, “...commentators such as Derek Kidner and Claus Westermann have suggested also that the Hebrew preposition translated at (ESV, NAS) the shore of the sea should be rendered ‘toward’ and so would indicate merely that Zebulun’s future territory is in the direction of the sea (but not necessarily on the sea). The term Sidon can denote the city itself on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, but it also can be used for the territory or region of Phoenicia, which adjoined Zebulun’s allotment” (https://biblicallanguages.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/genesis-49.13-28-study.pdf).
It may be that this prophecy is more concerned with what Zebulun would be involved in due to his proximity to the sea. This is confirmed by Moses. Moses did something similar to what Jacob did before he died: he blessed the twelve tribes as well with prophecies concerning them (Deut. 33). He, too, prayed for Zebulun and Issachar together: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand” (Deut. 33:18-19). Notice how Zebulun was to rejoice in his going out whereas Issachar was to rejoice in his tents. At the end, Moses said, “...for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.” It seems that drawing from the abundance of the seas is about Zebulun (who was to rejoice in going out) and drawing from the hidden treasures of the sand is about Issachar (who was to rejoice in his tents). Going out, then, seems to be referring to seafaring or engaging in trade.
Isaiah, too, connects Zebulun with the sea when he says, “In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations” (Isa. 9:1). This mention of Zebulun in Isaiah takes on a redemptive-historical significance. Some of you might have thought that the last part of v. 1 (“Galilee of the nations”) sounded familiar. It will be clearer when you read the verse that follows: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isa. 9:2). These verses were picked up by Matthew as a prophecy that was fulfilled when Christ ministered in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matt. 4:13-16).
It may be that Jacob’s prayer for Zebulun, which spoke of his close connection to the sea, particularly in terms of his involvement in the international trade, pointed to the gospel being preached to the Gentiles. Again, we are reminded that God’s plan all along has been to save people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people even when He set Israel apart from the world. This applies to us as well. Even though we have been set apart from the world as Christians, we must remember that our salvation doesn’t stop with us: it is a means through which the gospel advances to others. How can we be faithful in this regard even today? Maybe you can start by praying for our UCSD outreach and our team (Lynn, Elizabeth, Young, John, Sangwoo, and I). Thank you!