The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Chapter 7) "Zebulun"
In our last lesson on the Tribe of Issachar we mentioned that Issachar and Zebulun were closely related. They both reside in the legs of Israel figured as a man. They are
joint receivers of a special blessing from Moses as recorded in Deut 33:18-19 (NIV), "About Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of
righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand." In our lesson on Issachar we studied the word 'rejoice'. Not only does it refer to Issachar but also Zebulun. Zebulunites who are chosen of God are those who are not vocal
rejoicers necessarily, but they always radiate the joy and gladness of the Lord. The Isacharites radiate this joy in their tents, but Zebulun radiates it in his going out. Or to say it another
way, he is outgoing with the radiation of the joy of the Lord. When the people who are of the Tribe of Zebulun are given the revelation of what the purpose of God is for their generation, they go out and leave behind them doctrines,
regimes, methods, dear things, friends and family to follow the leading of the Lord. As they go out they radiate the infectious joy of the Lord. It is said of both Issachar and Zebulun that
they shall call the people unto the mountain. It says in Isaiah 2:3 (NIV), "Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." The mountain of the Lord refers to the Kingdom of God where the city of God is and where his throne is. Isachar and Zebulun do not call people to just any mountain or to just any man made kingdom or religion or church, They call with a loud voice for people to come into the Kingdom of God which is being established in the earth. That is, the earthly flesh of His people. The word 'call' in the Hebrew means to name something or someone. Isachar and Zebulun name people individually as Christians to the Kingdom of God. It is interesting to note that those who radiate joy are those who also are used to name the people. Even as Issachar was used to help establish the Kingdom under David because he had understanding of the times once again those of his tribe will be used to name the people. Once the people are called unto the mountain of the Lord what will happen? They will offer up sacrifices of righteousness. We have been told that if we will give the Lord a sacrifice of verbal praise it will be pleasing to Him. This is not so! If the heart does not praise Him, the lip service will be of none effect. We must learn to offer up ourselves as a sacrifice. It is said of Issachar and Zebulun that they shall suck of the abundance of the seas. What does the saying, "Shall suck of the abundance of the seas", mean? Seas spiritually speak of people. Hab 2:14 says, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Adam was formed out of the dust of the earth and is an earthy creation made in the image and likeness of God. Only man can be filled with knowledge. When we are born of God out of our innermost being flows wisdom and knowledge. Jesus said in John 7:37-38, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Isacharites and Zebulunites who have come into the Feast of Tabernacles or the Holy of Holies draw or suck from the manifest knowledge in those who have an ear to hear and recognize the voice of the Lord. The glory of God is manifested in Devine intelligence, spiritual knowledge, and Godly wisdom. This cannot be learned by or from man. It has to be imparted by the Spirit of the Lord to spiritually minded people. As this knowledge of the Lord is imparted to us it changes our thinking or our minds and out of our minds is imparted to our flesh this divine glory which can be seen by all. As our bodies are being glorified by the renewing of our minds the world will see Him because He is the Word. Isachar and Zebulun because of their love for people are interested in bringing them into the level of understanding to where they can hear and recognize the voice of the Lord for themselves. Besides this, it is said of Issachar and Zebulun that, "they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand." Note that they will feast on the abundance of the treasures hidden in the sand. The Lord told Abram in Gen 22:17, "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore." Here we see that the people of God are likened to the sand on the seashore. What, then, is the treasure hidden in the sand? The treasure is the Christ that comes into them at the new birth. Paul said in Col 2:1-3, "I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the
Take courage, Issacharites and Zebulunites, for you shall see that which long ago you tried to gain but could not for the saints shall reveal treasures of which you never dreamed.
In Gen 49:13 Jacob prophesied:
"Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon."
Once again the word 'sea' is used again concerning Zebulun. However, here we see a different picture than before. As we have seen before, the word 'sea' usually means the masses of people. Here we see that Zebulun dwells in rest by the storm tossed sea of humanity and has become a haven of rest and blessings to them.
One of the earmarks of Zebulun is his ability and availability to comfort those who are in any kind of trouble. He does not condemn them but he offers forgiveness and wisdom to them. Also it is said that his border will extend toward Sidon. Sidon means to catch fish. Zebulun not only is a haven for ships but he is a fisher of men. Notice, I said of Men. Not of babies. Zebulun, along with the Lord, is looking for a few good men.
In order to carry out His plan the Lord is raising up a few men who will hearken to His voice and carry out His orders to the inth degree. Zebulun is used of God to fish out the firstfruits of His vineyard. Jerimiah prophesied this in Jer 16:15-16,
"As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers. "But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the LORD, "and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks."
Now, let's take a look at the Fifth Gate of the Holy City which is Zebulun. Zebulun means: HABITATION Not only does Zebulun mean a habitation, but a habitation to be desired. It is from a root word meaning: Enclose, reside, or dwell within. This is the gate where your Christianity leaves the individual realm and your conversation changes from I to we.
The biggest problem we face in the ministry today is people who are wrapped up in themselves. Even to the point that they let you know without a doubt, "It is MY ministry". I have met very few who have walked through the fifth gate. Even those who are proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. Most of them are so caught up in what they are doing that they fail to realize that the last enemy can only be conquered by the corporate body of Christ. If you have come through this gate everything you do, the way you think, what you do with your time, your talent and treasure, is always for the body of Christ.
Zebulun is only the fifth gate. Five is the number of grace. His grace is always sufficient. Zebulun stresses the importance of the local assembly. There are so many people who have had a Reuben experience, and some have gone on to experience Simeon and even Levi and Judah but most of them have stopped there and become a law unto themselves, therefore they only minister corruption and death.
You cannot force people to enter through this gate because this gate must be experienced. We don't force people to go to church, and we do not condemn them if they don't. We cannot do anything to put it in the heart of a man to be part of the family of God. Only from the Christ nature from within each person can a man get a vision of a local assembly. I have met a lot of ministers who have told me that God was leading them to do a lot of things but I cannot hear a word they are saying because they are isolated from the Body of Christ.
The Third stone on the breastplate was a Carbuncle or a Beryl stone. There are two different kinds of beryl. The stone is aquamarine or a pale blue/green. Some stones are a light gray color. The blue/green stones carry with them the idea of two elements mixed together to produce the third color. The light gray stone also has two elements which are mixed together which produces the third color. The two elements are silicate of aluminum and berylium.
Beryllium is the only stable light weight metal with a relative high melting point. It takes a lot of fire to melt berylium. Beryllium has an excellent electrical conductivity. It has good mechanical properties. It is use for structural and thermal applications and nuclear reactors. It is used because it can withstand a lot of heat and is strong.
The principle of Zebulun is that he stayed, was in training, and learned about sailing before he went to sea. This is very important. Where did Jesus grow up? In a carpenter's shop in Nazareth. Whose territory was Nazareth in? Zebulun. Matt. 4:13 says,
"Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Nazareth is a priestly city, and priests would gather in Nazareth before going up to Jerusalem to perform their priestly duties. So, who was there to observe the ways of the priesthood? Jesus. Nazareth was a crossroads of travel and every manner of thinking and cultural exchange took place there. This is why they say, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Jesus was submitted to ministry before He entered His ministry.
Jesus, at the age of twelve, confounded all the teachers of the law. Yet, how long did He wait? How long did he practice the principle of Zebulun? 18 years! I wonder how many young ministries are willing today to go through the Zebulun gate and become identified with a dwelling place; a local church, a people where they can learn about ministry before they go to minister? We must submit our ministry to the Body of Christ, because in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. The new wine is still found in the cluster of Zebulun!
Zebulun's name was inscribed on the third stone of the breastplate of the high priest. Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob, the last son to be born out of the Jacob nature yet he rose to the position of number three on the breastplate of the High Priest. Jacob's nature was being changed even then. It is not where you start that is important, but where you are placed in the setting of the Lord.
Zebulun rose seven positions from his birth because he lived up to his name and became identified with the people of God. The beryl stone upon which Zebulun's name was inscribed was the Eighth Foundation stone in the wall of the Holy City. Eight is the number of new beginnings. You can now understand why beryl is the stone in the eighth foundation.
The Eighth Foundation of the Holy City of Revelation 21 is praise and worship. It starts in the Holy Place or the Feast of Pentecost. The Apostle whose name was written on this stone is Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus Judas. Thaddaeus had three names. Three is the number of God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The name that everybody knew him by was Lebbaeus Thaddaeus Judas. The name Judas is a derivative of Judah which means praise. Labbaues means heart or courage or courageous. Thaddaeous means a mothers breast. It also means 'wise'. Taking nourishment in order to live.