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The Tribe of Issachar (Symbol: Humble Donkey)

Issachar means: he will bring rewards,nasa, to lift up high. His stone on the breast plate of rightenous, fore which the high priest wore into the inner chamber of the tabernacle, is the "Amethyst" which means: not intoxicating. His mother name was Leah. His symbol is the: humble donkey. Prophesy: The Bible says: Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. (Genesis 49:14-15) The Bible also says: And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand. (Deuteronomy 33:18-19) The Bible also says: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zech. 9:9) And the Bible says: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? (Deuteronomy 32:30) The naming is reads as so, The Bible says: And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. (Genesis 30:14-18)

Lets take an interesting look at the foreknowledge of the prophesy of Issachar to see the process of developing their character as we journey through their life. This will give us more depth in the understanding of their particular situations as well as give us the opportunity to see ourselves in them. Our make up of character is based on the same principle as the members of old.

Within Jacob’s prophecy we see clearly some particular people around us today, with their ability to do more with less or take on more than we possibly can and seems yet to damper their spirits. This is what the Issacharites are, they are carriers of the cross, they not only carry their own crosses but they are carrying half dozen more at the same time. It is as if God gave them something extra in their DNA to equip them for such a task. This ties right in to their symbol the humble donkey, which set forth a picture of the animal carrying more than it seems possible.

For the Body of Christ this puts a whole new light on our burdens, as if we should be able to handle more than others because we have a greater strength with in us than is in the world. The Father knows our limitations better than we know it ourselves; we are the one that puts limitations on ourselves by taking God out of the equation. As we go threw the lives of the Issacharites we will be granted the revelation of understanding the principle behind strength. As well as see where we are in the revolving of our own character traits that enhances our strength.

Now Moses gives us something remarkable in his prophecy unto Issachar and links it to another. As if Moses knows that sometimes certain characteristics works better join to another of opposite to enhance each other to receive the fullness of their individual calling. But at the same hand be able to leave the envy, strife and jealousy behind and rejoice in the elevation of one another. As if God’s revelation was the assurance of gratefulness to see one excel in their individual area but with a joint effort to do it.

Today we know the importance of working together as a team for which Christ set a perfect example of that by sending the disciples out two by two. We must come to the realization that isolation is where the enemy wants you, so that your edification is only to your self and not the Body. We are members of a body that have many but for the body to be strong it must band together. In our separate calling their might be individual training or molding only to fit jointly with others to raise all those around you. We belong to one another.

Issachar was born under strange circumstances. He was conceived in the time of the wheat harvest. The month of Sivan, this is from late May till mid June. So his birthday would be in the month of Adar, which is March (the first three weeks). It is very interesting how NASA using the very meaning of the word Issachar to reach into outer space as his meaning suggest to "lift up high". Read the story about the mandrake fruit. This was believed to have mystical powers in reproduction as the women fought for Jacobs’s affection.

Jacob having four wives was very busy and how the women had to struggle for their husband attention. Understand how the myth was broken between Leah not needing the mandrake to conceive and bare another child. Look at how that compare into our own lives today. How we think we have to have certain things in order to serve God. That we have to be able to bring something to the table of God, when He already has everything we need at the table. The symbol of Issachar is the humble donkey. Fore which represent the greatest of traits in a Kings position. Look at how God takes the lonely of animals and elevate him to greatness. As Jesus, Christ, Himself, road in on one and stated to the rulers, that if the people did not cry out the rocks would upon His entry. Look how God does not need much from you and me to achieve greatness in our lives. Look at Jacob's prophesy describing the power of the lonely humble donkey as Christ demonstrated in the carrying of the cross more than anyone person could bare.

Look at how Moses prophesies fore tells the going out ward into the highways and bi-ways to gather the people. One humble donkey working to bring in the harvest, for each of us God would never put too much on us we could not bear. Look at Issachar's family which he had four sons, Tola means: stretch out long, purple crimson. Tola was the father of the Tolaites. Phuvah (also spelled Pua) which means: shinning, Bright, to brag, like a donkey, to call out, Phuvah was the father of teh Punites. Job (in other places he is called Joshup) which means: Jehovah remembered, he was the father of Jashubites. Shimon which means: to watch to be waitful, to be a keeper and a guardian, he was the father of Shimronites. Look at how they had to learn not to take on to much and due what they could, and not be boastful of what they did.

Look at some of the historical members of the tribe and their numbers in the wilderness and the numbers entering into the Land of Caanan. (Numbers 26:33). Look at Nathaneel (Numbers 2:5). Igal (Numbers 13:7). Paltiel (Numbers 34:26) and many more. Look at the weakness of Issachar Baasha (1 King 15: 16, 16:13) was the second king over Israel was of the tribe of Issachar (1 Kings 15:27) A very wonderful story. Read the story to understand the tragedy.

Check out the genealogy of Issachar dating back to the time of King David, The Bible says: Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimrom, four. And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred. And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men. And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons. And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand. (1 Chronicles 7: 1-5). Notice how the tree of Issachar was diverse to were it would be easy to say that they were not going to amount to much. Maybe you heard that among your generation because of different situations that your previous ancestors were in you think that it applies to you. Have you ever been judge according to your father or mother actions or sister or brother to were others think you are the same. God can use one to change the out come of the entire future generation. As if to say you can break the curse of poverty as well as lack of education or what ever has been hindering your family line.

Read about men of understanding because of the quietness and the controlling of the mouth. The Bible says: And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. (1 Chronicles 12:32) Notice how all these factors in with our daily walk with Christ and see how others gain victory in that area, and how it enhanced their lives. Look at how one generation of men understood a particular trait or gift that God bestowed upon them and started changing the entire nation. How God use them regardless of their background or what was going on with the other members of their family God reached down an elevated them in the mist of the trail. How many times in your life have you wondered if I could get out of this it would be alright? Not fully understanding why you are in it in the first place. God is making a move in your generation threw you if you would receive what He has for you. It don’t take a hundred of God’s people to change something one will be enough.

Look at how the women of Issachar were and their roles as Issachar women, beholding the same traits. The Bible says: Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. (1Kings 1:1-4) Look at how true righteous men of God have no fear in having another member of the fold to step up an do their part. Without holding gender over there head, giving each and every member of the Body of Christ the opportunity to mature and find their rightful positioning in the family. Interesting in God’s order there is no respect of person we all are equal and can be a servant of God!

Look at the positioning of Issachar in different times of their existence. As well how God moved them through to have them in the right place at the right time. In the Promise Land, The Bible says: And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath, And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. (Joshua 19: 17-23) The Bible also says: And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion. (Ezekiel 48:25). Look at the moving and the Devine plan of God working without anyone aware. Sometimes were you are the exact place where God want you in order to receive the spiritual elevation to comprehend or maintain the physical promotion. In God plan there are no mistakes nor can things happening by chance, some you figure out some you cannot. But that is the plan of God to always take care of His people so it makes no difference where you are He is there also.

Remember in order to hold the position of a ruler in your house, job, relationship it is not all about being boastful for doing what you are suppose to be doing. It is not bragging rights, it is as Issachar learned and Christ perfected in His walk. Knowing who you are and being humble in that position. Humble is not weakness but strength, to control the flesh and its sinful nature. And that is in every area in your life, spiritual, mental, or physical. Understanding who you are and what the primary reason that you are where you are takes the load off of trying to be something you are not. So important that you are better than anyone else, looking down on others, pointing fingers. Remember it is only by the grace of God that you are where you are, so when you see someone less fortunate than yourself, or maybe not as understanding of God’s revelation remember it could be you. Remember why you are trying to look down on some one else God is always looking down on you.