Sermons
Vander Kam on Genesis 49:14-15
Sermons
Vander Kam on Genesis 49:14-15Genesis 49:14-15 – "'Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between the sheepfolds.
When he saw that a resting place was good
And that the land was pleasant,
He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens,
And became a slave at forced labor.'" (New American
Standard Bible)
Beloved in the Lord: it has usually been assumed that the lifestyle of the Christian is also to be different from the lifestyle of the man of this world. And there has also ever so much that has been written and spoken about as what is that type of a lifestyle that is to be characteristic of the believer. And then of course, there are immediately ever so many questions because of the fact that we are also here in the midst of this world and this is the world in which we will also have to make a living. This is the kind of a world that also has its influence on us and this is the kind of a world that therefore also characterizes ever so many of the things that you and I do and think.
And yet at the same time, we also realize do we not, that also our entire life ought to be entirely different from the unbeliever. And that it ought to be the kind of a life that shows its devotion, that it is the kind of a life that is going to be well pleasing to God. And then of course, there are ever so many problems that immediately arise because the times change in which we are living. And as a result of that, must then also the lifestyle of the individual believer change in accordance with it. Is that which was not acceptable in a former day, acceptable today? Because of the fact that the times have changed, must we therefore also change with it or get hopelessly behind.
These are some of the things of course, whereby we are faced and these are also some of the very practical things in life, some of the kind of things of which we also ought to have answers. And it is only beloved, when we dig into the Scriptures that we will also be able to find answers for the various problems of life. It is only when we dig into that mine of the Word of God, that we will be able to find satisfaction. And so also with the various sons of Jacob, they speak to us even today. And they speak to us in such a way so that it is also unmistakably clear.
We speak to you tonight on Issachar; The Self-Seeking Life. And then we notice in the first place, the beginnings of it; secondly, the development; and finally, its teaching.
Now here beloved, we are face to face with the kind of a situation that is virtually unbelievable. We are face to face with the kind of a situation, that is the beginning of Issachar, that we would say "How is it possible, that anything like that could ever occur?" And here is it all familiar with the Bible who is familiar with the history of Genesis, also by the time that he has come to the 49th chapter, has already seen that virtually nothing is unbelievable anymore. And that also even within the family of the people of God there are also those things that they placed, that we would also say, "that cannot be!"
That here, mind you, there is a day in which Reuben, a small child at that time, goes out and that the writer says that he finds mandrakes, love apples, something like four leaf clovers. He finds these, and these were the ones that were supposed to have a love potion. And now these superstitious women, Leah and Rachel, begin to quarrel. Whose are they going to be? And Reuben is the son of Leah, and therefore they belong to her. And Rachel now bargains, mind you, and this is in the family, the family of one of the patriarchs. And begins to bargain and says, "If you will give me these mandrakes, these Dudaims, these love-apples, then you can have Jacob." She hires him, Leah hires Jacob; he will not be with her, he has left her completely. And now for the hire of these mandrakes, she waits for him now as he comes home that night and says, "I have hired you, I bought you." And then she conceives Issachar and she says, "That's why he isn't the same, because I hired my husband." And that goes on in the family of so-called believers.
Now these are the kind of things beloved, that are virtually unbelievable upon the very surface and nevertheless the writer of Genesis records it for us in great detail in order that we may also see it. And that we might thereby also be instructed, and that there from we may also derive courage, and that from it we may also derive that kind of a comfort that you and I need when many a time we look upon the disasters in our own lives.
This is the child that is now going to grow up and the prophet, the father, speaks when he sees him and he says, "He is as a strong ass, as a donkey, that lies between the sheepfolds; no, that isn't it; between the stalls and those may have had sheep in it, and he lies down here, he is strong, but he would rather rest. And that is the characterization that his father gives him, and he looks prophetically into the future.
And let me remind you once more, that here there is a man speaking under the influence of the Spirit of God, so that the Spirit is laying the words upon his lips. And that we are here not dealing with the emotional outbursts of an individual, but that we are here dealing with that which is prophetic, which is concerning the days to come. And that this man is now going to be strong, he has strength, tremendous strength, and that he will also use it at times, but at other times that he will lay it aside completely, and that he couches and sees that the rest is good and that he lies down, for he seeks himself.
This is the one who has fallen in love with himself, and is therefore also seeking his own welfare at all times. That is going to be characteristic of Issachar, that is characteristic of him, and that is also going to be characteristic of his tribe, of all those are to be his descendants. That even though they have strength, nevertheless they are not always going to use it, but they are going to use it when it suits the purpose. And when it doesn't suit the purpose, which is the usual, then they will not use it, but they will use it only for their own rest.
Now those are the kind of things, beloved, that we see very early in the life of this man and in the life of his tribe. Issachar is of course, one of the tribes of which very little is heard, but nevertheless when Deborah sings concerning the tribes of Israel that have come up with Barak and she, in order that they might fight against Sisera. Then Issachar also came, she says, and this was a mighty man, these were mighty people, he has the strength, and this is the time that it ought to be used.
He will use it now because fighting is now better than paying taxes. And at other times he is going to lay it aside, and then he is going to rest, when he considers that paying taxes is better than fighting. That is going to be characteristic. So has it begun? I have hired thee, she says to Jacob. And Issachar's whole life proclaims, "I'm for sale, for sale, to the highest bidder!" There is no one line that he follows, but it is self-seeking. The rest; the rest is good, and the land is pleasant, and he couches down despite his strength, and rests.
Secondly, notice also, its development. Now the development beloved, that we find concerning the tribe of Issachar may also seem as though it is very small, because of the fact that it is mentioned so few times. And yet the few times that it is mentioned in the Old Testament is also very significant in order to show us that self-same picture. But then we find do we not, that there is one of the judges, there is one of the judges that is come from the tribe of Issachar. Even though there were also ever so many of the tribes that had none, none to whom they could ever point that was a leader in Israel.
Nevertheless, concerning Issachar, there is one, and that is Tola, and this Tola also delivered Israel, we read, and that they also accept that he has delivered them, but as to the kind of deliverance it was, I don't know; and no one else does. But he delivered Israel and then he judged twenty-three years, and then he died, and that was all, that's all that you can say because there isn't a thing seemingly that he ever did. Different!
And at the time when David is going to take over, and then we have to know the history well, and then Saul has died on Gilboa. And then now Abner is commander-in-chief, takes Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and puts him on the throne of Israel for two years. And now when this weakling has passed from the scene and David is about to take over, then Israel comes to David in great numbers; eighteen thousand from the one tribe, twenty thousand from another, and so it goes on and on, and then when you come to Issachar's tribe, there were two hundred, two hundred. And these were not the men of battle, not the fighting men, but two hundred wise men that understood the times. And these now come to David, and they come to the conference table; not to the battlefield. No, that is left to others, and that would upset Issachar's rest. But he sends two hundred wise men, that know the times. They are successful!
For here is the kind of an individual, and the kind of a tribe that looks to this, "Where lies the profit? Where lies the profit with the least expenditure of energy?" And they send these two hundred, and these two hundred, it must be said, have accomplished more than all the thousands of Israel, for they give now counsel to David, and they understand the times, you see, and as a result of that were very successful in establishing David upon the throne.
And again, when it is clear in the very beginning beloved, of the northern kingdom; Jeroboam has there been on the throne and he has reigned there over Israel, over the northern kingdom, for some years. And the wrath of Jehovah is kindled against him, not because of this first of all, that he has made that breach between Judah and Israel, not first of all that he has made that breach in the house of David, that is something that had been prophesied and that was also under the divine control. But now Jeroboam sets up the altars, at Dan and at Bethel, and these are the ones where he is now going to worship, and then first of all it begins with this, that it is going to be the worship of the true God, but it is only a little while and this leads to all manner of idolatry, and it becomes perversial in Israel. Jeroboam sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. And now Ahijah the prophet is sent to him, and he tells him that he is going to die. Nadab, his son, comes and but for two years, and that dynasty is going to be taken away, and God sends one of the tribe of Issachar, in order that he may now rid the land of the sins of Jeroboam, and the sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
So that Issachar now again has a nail in a holy place, and that Issachar now again shows that there is also that which comes out of this tribe where there is strength. He is a mighty man, a strong ass, couching, and this Baasha is now come in order that he may devastate that whole household of Jeroboam, and he does. He wipes it out, completely, there is nothing left. Then he sees hope, there are rays of light, and in the very next verse you read, "And then Baasha when he had exterminated the whole house of Jeroboam, then fell into the same sin."
And also in that kind of a diplomacy, he also sinned that same sin as Jeroboam, of idolatry, and as a result of that has accomplished nothing. He has accomplished nothing more than Jeroboam had, and is now guilty concerning the same sins committed. And his whole house is exterminated by Zimri, in order that that sin may be blotted out from the land of Israel.
And thereby you also see in the development as it goes on throughout the years in the tribe of Issachar. That here you have those who are at all times seeking rest, and are at all times on the lookout, where there is the greatest profit. And these are the ones beloved, who have never understood that there is any kind of a relationship between the material and the spiritual. Who have never understood that there is a responsibility in the material things, for the spiritual verities that have been pronounced. These are the ones who look upon Jesus Christ as being only for the future, and there are still ever so many in the church of Christ of the present day of that same stance. And they also look upon Him as being the One for the future, and if I were never going to die, I would not bother my head about Him. And that is even the approach of some today. The approach of some that are very popular in fact, an approach in evangelism; what would happen to you if you died tonight? Because that's when you need Jesus! Never mind the rest of the facts.
And those are the kind of things that speak to us out of the early years of the Old Testament. Where you had that same kind of an idea, that the material, that the physical has no relationship whatsoever to the spiritual. And that they are two distinct spheres, and that the two are to be kept apart. And of course, I'm going to die, that he says it; then what's going to happen after him! Then, of course, we'd better be religious. That's why! The Bible speaks less, less to young people than to old. While you are standing in the strength of your years, why bother about it. And those would have been all the sons of Issachar. As long as you have this life, and it is not interrupted whatsoever, your whole lifestyle is not interrupted whatsoever by the demands and the claims of Jesus Christ; that's the ideal. Then you can have rest, and then you can have rest constantly, and then you can keep on resting, that even though you have your strength, nevertheless you won't have to use it; and that's a lot better.
He saw the land that it was good, that it was pleasant; that's the place to be. And that is the way in which they continued throughout the ages. Hereby has the historian of the Old Testament depicted it for us so clearly, so beautifully. The various streams through humanity throughout the history of the world, and we see them in great numbers yet today. Jesus for the future. Just so He is there then when I need Him; right now I don't. Because now I can take care of everything all by myself.
That's the way Issachar lives, and Jacob sees it; that's what he prophesied concerning his son. This old man is ready to die, and he says, "You, my son, you've been given great gifts, great strength. Don't you see the rest, that it is good? When you lie down, when you fall sound asleep, and you care not what happens."
And finally, notice then also, the teaching. For we are to realize beloved, that hereby is given to us in Issachar's state, the people of diplomacy. These are the people of compromise, and if it is profitable that you fight, then you fight. And if it is profitable that you capitulate, then you capitulate. And that is just a little bit different then that which we read in Hebrews 11 tonight, that these heroes of faith did not accept, would not receive deliverance out of the hands of those who were on the wrong side. Mind you! They wouldn't even accept that deliverance.
Now Issachar would say, "I don't care what kind of government there is, just so I have prosperity." And the heroes of faith say, "I wouldn't even accept deliverance out of the hands of God's enemies." That's the difference! Deliverance is sweet. When you are in bondage and deliverance is offered, that is indeed attractive, that is a real temptation. They refused it; they would not accept deliverance, because it came out of the wrong hands. And the devil often promises deliverance. He also said to Jesus, "I know a way, I know a way that You may not realize, but it is a shortcut, and it bypasses the cross. And still You will get the crown." And Christ says, "Get behind Me!" For He will also not accept deliverance out of such hands.
For we are to realize beloved, that Christ is also the poorest – I repeat – the poorest diplomat there has ever been. That is the One who has not lived of diplomacy, has not lived of compromise. But He is the One who sees black and white, who sees, if you will, to speak in good Reformed terminology, who sees the Antithesis. Who sees on the one hand that which is evil, and on the other hand that which is God's will. He has but one purpose and that's what He strives for. "I come to do Thy will O God, regardless where it leads, regardless what the cost is."
He was a poor, poor diplomat. He will not play the game of diplomacy with the people of His day, with the leaders of His day. Issachar would have jumped at the chance, he would have been in the forefront of those who are diplomatic about these things, and also realize what is involved, and also realize that after all, times are changing, and that therefore also there is to be proper diplomacy.
Now not only are we to say concerning Jesus Christ that He is the poorest diplomat that ever lived, but we can also say it of His true followers. Where I began to read tonight in Hebrews 11:32, but you know what went before. And there the author of Hebrews writes concerning the heroes of faith, and that he says concerning an Abraham, "that he left Ur of the Chaldees not knowing whether he was going." And Issachar would say, "That's not being very practical." And Moses, concerning him it is said that he had left then the house of Pharaoh, left it in order that he might cast his lot with the downtrodden people of God, the Jews. That Issachar would say, "That's not being very practical." That is no diplomacy. You are to bend with the winds, you are to bend with the times, you are to bend in such a way so that the greatest profit may accrue to you. And that you will also be able to see that there is still profit in it regardless, regardless what the circumstances may be.
Christ will not allow that, and therefore it also leads to an entirely different order of things, and it is a different order of things because it also leads to an entirely different lifestyle. And it is that lifestyle that will not even accept deliverance out of the wrong hands, that would rather be sawn asunder, mind you, according to Hebrews 11. That would rather suffer indignity upon indignity and finally suffer the loss of life itself, rather than to accept deliverance out of the hands of those who kept captives.
This is an entirely different order of things. For we are here not dealing beloved, with the order of the diplomat Issachar, but we are here dealing in the New Testament with the One Jesus Christ who says, "If ye, if ye will not leave all things to follow me, ye cannot be My disciples." And therefore He also counsels against an overenthusiastic response when He says, "That he who would build a tower, first better sit down and count the cost."
Jesus said all these things that we look over so many a time and we know them and these words no longer make much of an impression. He says to the people of His day, "Watch out if you're going to follow Me, because that will mean that you are going to turn your back upon all that which is commonly called human. You will turn your back upon the whole diplomatic scene, from an Issachar which are native to you."
I was reading in the Today, concerning Holland during the Second World War. One of their leading theologians wrote, "This is not the time to become nervous and speak, but to take these things and work them over within you. You must not seek martyrdom." And as a result of course, the people were without all leadership. And thereby had they also denied the Christ. Had Christ only said before Pilate, "Now, now really, I'm not guilty!" Okay, Pilate would have said, go. We're all done."
It is precisely in that critical moment where Issachar would have said, "You are all mistaken and I may also have done something wrong in the past, but really, I'm not a killer." And in that critical moment, and it is a matter of life and death, Christ says, "I am the Prince, and henceforth you shall see heaven opened, and the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." That seals His death, but He is a poor diplomat. But He is the Truth, and that was never said of Issachar.
And that order of things Christ holds up before us. And Jacob looks upon his son, this one now another son of Leah, Dan and Naphtali, Dan and Asher, have been of the handmaidens, but now Issachar is a son of Leah. And he says, when he is going to dispense blessings; "My boy, I see only this, that you are bending with every wind that blows, you are strong, you have it, but you don't use it." Christ says, "Let everyone that hears My voice, come unto Me, and follow Me. For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and then lose his own soul?" Amen.
Father, we come before Thee with thanksgiving. We thank Thee for Thy Word. We thank Thee for Thy grace manifested. We pray O God, that we may be taught of Thee, and that it may be an instruction unto life. Grant us Thy blessing further. Be near to us in the days of the week to come. Grant that in all things we may worship Thee and may ever be true to Thee and to Thy Word. Forgive our sins; hear us in mercy, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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