READY TO BE FREE
Now we have arrived at the time when the people of Israel have been freed from Egypt and Pharaoh’s bondage.
They have made their way through the path of The Red Sea and traveled all the way to the bottom of Mt. Sinai.
Moses has been up to the Mountaintop to receive the Law (twice.) The Law has been explained to the people over and over again; and The Wilderness Tabernacle has been constructed, set aside as sacred and consecrated to God. The priestly order has been established and ordained and set aside and consecrated before God.
READY FOR SACRIFICES TO BE OFFERED
Statues and commandments for offering sacrifices at God’s altar have been established and taught to the priest.
God has repeatedly instructed the people thoroughly as to how He wishes for them to live, beginning at this point and continuing on forever in the land where He is taking them.
READY TO TAKE THE LAND
The Army of Israel is now divided into tribes.
They are all traveling through the desert with the Tabernacle moving exactly in their center. When the pillar of fire (at night,) or the cloud of The Presence (by day) stops. They stop. When these two forces move; they move.
Each tribe continues the journey, each pitching their tents with the doors facing the tabernacle from their designated places.
They travel in precise order. Each tribe has it’s own ensign and it’s own assignments for moving the people toward the Promised Land.
Each tribe now has a designated leader who has been appointed by God and designated for the job through the instructions of God from Moses.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our every-Thursday bible study called COME AS A CHILD. We are continuing today in Numbers; Chapter 2.
We heard last week of the first leader, Nahshun, who was the Son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah. He was the leader over 74,600 men of Israel all together. If you missed that lesson; you may review it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/when-god-calls-you-by-name-come-as-a-child-lesson-241/
Nahshun was the first to be brave enough to follow God’s instructions and walk past where the water was over his head into the Red Sea before it parted. In so many words; Nahshun believed God and had faith that God would supply life and breath for him.
For this, and perhaps other reasons; Nahshun was known for his courage and bravery and obedience.
NETHANEL SON OF ZUAR FROM ISSACHAR
The second leader whom God appointed through Moses was Nethanel, The Son of Zuar, of the tribe of Issachar.
Perhaps you have heard of the Men of Issachar?
How timely that we just passed Epiphany and our study related to the wise men who could “discern the times and determine the proper courses.” If you missed that study you might want to read it again. You can find it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/epiphany-magi-wisemen/
As the other leaders of Israel were standing around on the banks of The Red Sea and pondering whether to follow Nahshun into the water while Moses was holding the rod over the waters; Nethanel had the wisdom to follow right away without question while the others stood around questioning who should be next. This was not unnoticed by God.
Nethanel became known among Israel as a wise and obedient man who discerned the times and knew the right thing to do.
God appointed Nethanel to be the next Captain/Prince of Israel for the tribe of Issachar. He commanded 57,400 men all together.
A FEW GOOD APPLES IN A BARRELL FULL OF ROTTEN APPLES
These two leaders seemed to be the cream of the crop as far as tribal leaders go; but don’t let these first two picks fool you.
Israel had great problems in this area of leadership.
When the tabernacle had been built and Moses had asked for the people to voluntarily supply the materials; not one leader stepped up!
Every single item furnished for the tabernacle came from the wealth of the common people and not the priestly orders or the tribal leaders.
ARROGANCE AND PRIDE
The reasoning of these leaders was very arrogant.
They were insulted because Moses did not specifically ask them first.
Like most arrogant people; they wanted to get even and prove the point of how their importance mattered. They figured if they withheld their possessions and gifts until the very last that it would become clear and obvious that they were the most wealthy and the most blessed among all of the people and everyone would see and know how important they were.
Their selfish plan backfired on them.
Moses got more than enough materials from the generosity of the common people.
He received so much from them that he called for everyone to stop giving.
THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT COMES FROM BEING FOUND OUT
At that point the leaders of the tribes were very embarrassed. It would soon become known to everyone that they made NOT ONE CONTRIBUTION!
They couldn’t have that egg on their faces!
It would have happened anyway though; had it not been for the wise leadership of Nethanel; who stepped up and advised them that they had acted foolishly. He quickly suggested that they try to make amends.
So they tried to make up for it by supplying the jewels and the clothes that were to be worn by the priest.
This was their one gift toward God’s worship in Israel. It didn’t seem like enough and Nethanel still had some further suggestions for any who would listen.
ACTIONS THAT CHANGE NAMES
For this reason, as the ancient manuscripts that make up the holy scriptures were finally dictated for all to study and use; the “yud” was dropped from each of these men’s names because this part of the alphabet signified an association with divinity, and they had not acted true to the nature of their names.
None of these tribal leaders of Israel had their names associated with the sacredness of God as it was recorded down through the ages; except for Nathanel.
THE BENEFITS OF WISE COUNSEL
The wisdom and counsel of Nathanel made such a difference in the direction of the future for Israel’s later generations.
The tribe of Issachar (from which Nethanel hailed) later became known as the tribe that was the most faithful to preserve and teach the Torah.
The tribe of Zebulun also loved Torah. They loved it so much that they made an agreement with Issachar that they would work and provide financial support for the men of Issachar as they sat in their tents and studied and carefully taught the Torah.
Before Moses died he gave blessings to all of the tribes. The blessing for Issachar and Zebulan was shared. These were the words that Moses spoke over them:
“Rejoice Zebulun in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and they offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
TWO BLESSINGS THAT SAID THE SAME
Moses’ words came true as the descendants of Issachar later in the nation’s history became the tribe of men who sat in their tents and taught and recorded Torah to and for the people of the land while they were supported financially by the work of the trades from the men of Zebulun.
Moses’ words over this tribe correspond and echoed the Patriarch Jacob’s words over his son Issachar as the Patriarch blessed each son during the days when he was dying.
THE WISE MEN
These men of Issachar became known far and wide as “men who discerned the times and knew what to do.”
Fast forward to the time of the birth of Christ; years and years after the wilderness experiences. Every little thing that happened in the wilderness journey pointed toward that day when The Messiah would come.
Wise men come with treasures seeking a new born King of The Jews.
These”wise men” were men who “discerned the times” and “knew the correct courses to take.”
THE TRUE DESCENDANTS OF ISSACHAR
These Wise Men that we all mistakenly thought were Gentiles because they came “from the East” were simply descendants of the generations of the Men of Issachar.
They came from the line of Daniel and the other captives that the King of Babylon had taken into his religious circles and called Magi. All of them were NOT Gentile; many of them were the descendants of Issachar and the true children of Abraham, though their identities had long been “hidden in the sand.”
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE STAR?
What more can I say about Nethanel, Son of Zuar who got to keep the “el” designation at the end of his name; except that he was one of the wise men of Issachar whose descendants were eventually known for preserving the Torah, studying and knowing the truth of God and eventually following the star and finding the Messiah of the world.
If only Nethanel had seen and realized his true destiny back in the days of Moses!
What things might have turned out different?
When God gives us a destiny we have to follow it with all our hearts. Half-hearted destinies never bring the desired results and only wind up delaying their purposes.
When God determines to do something though; no man can change His course. If you let Him, God will use you; if not, He will find someone else. God’s plan will come about. God is the same today, tomorrow and forever. He nor His plan will ever change.