Written
by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
“Issachar is no better than a donkey That lies stretched out
between its saddlebags. But he sees that the resting place is
good And that the land is delightful. So he bends his back to carry the load and
is forced to work as a slave. Good
News Translation
“Issachar is a rawboned[f] donkey lying down among the sheep pens. When
he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will
bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. NIV
“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. He
saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed
his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. English
Standard Version (ESV)
Issachar is a strong donkey,lying down between the sheepfolds.
He saw that his resting place was
good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and
submitted to labor as a servant.… Berean Study Bible
The
Bible records in Genesis Chapter 49 verse 14 that Issachar lost his identity
and mission in life to a pleasant land and the supposedly rest that the
pleasant land provided. Unfortunately, Issachar became a band of slaves over a
period of time. Issachar who was divinely designed to provide leadership
direction and influence (2nd Chronicles Chapter 12 verse 32) sold
himself and his generation to slavery. Fortunately, God showed them mercy and
restored their leadership role in Israel.
It
is quite common for people to lose their identities and missions in life when
they get engaged in either temporary areas of service where God allows them to
serve in order to acquire skills, expertise, experience, education, assets,
influence, poise, fame, honor, dignity, prestige, divine contacts and
connections which they would require in fulfilling divine purpose and achieving
their missions much later in life. The truth is that such temporary assignments
are actually training grounds to learn what needs to be learnt and not for a
person to lose his or her identity or mission in life.
Moses
for instance was divinely opportune to be raised in the court of Pharaoh as the
grandson of Pharaoh. Yet, he did not lose his identity as an Israelite. In
point of fact, it was his action against an Egyptian who hurt an Israelite that
culminated in the events that led to his self exile in Midian. Eventually, at
the fullness of time, the upbringing and training in Pharaoh’s house palace
prepared Moses for the encounters with the new Pharaoh and his court which
ultimately culminated in the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Please read
Exodus Chapters 2 to 12 for details and Holy Spirit inspired insight.
Even
while in exile in Midian, Moses did not lose his identity. He lived with the
priest of Midian, was married to one of the daughters of the priest and earned
income from tending the flock of Jethro, his father in-law, yet he did not lose
his identity as an Israelite. That explains why Moses could relate to God in
the burning bush and most importantly accepted God’s divine task and
responsibility to him – to confront Pharaoh, challenge the oppression of the
Israelites by Pharaoh and the Egyptian task masters and thereafter lead the
children of Israel out of Egypt, its oppression and bondage. Please read Exodus
Chapter 3 for details.
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