“Of the sons of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.” (1 Chronicles 12:32)
Two statements are key: 1) “understanding of the times,” and 2) “knowing what Israel ought to do.” This blog will focus on the first
one. In order to understand the times
there must be a frame of reference, a base line of fundamental standards. One
cannot truly understand current conditions without having a grasp of historical
circumstances and events to overlay across present trends. When a person is
mentally conditioned he has an ability to see future successes in the here and
now because of the natural cause and effect relationship with obedience and
submission to Almighty God that has been proven throughout history.
In the case of Israel, the sons of Issachar had to know the
promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the subsequent leadership of
Moses through the wilderness wanderings, and the successful venture of Joshua’s
direction into the Promised Land. The collapse during the time of the Judges leading
into the disappointment of the Kingship gave a clear picture to these alert
young men that certain actions and attitudes came with drastic consequences!
They had the ability to reasonably and logically conclude that disobedience
toward God and His principles would lead to negative outcomes for the entire
nation. They saw that following Saul was only going to continue the downward
spiral of defeat and national despair. David was not only a better option, he
was the only wise choice. The sons of Issachar saw future events by understanding
the former process of obedience and by refusing to embrace that failed
continuance of “doing what was right in
their own eyes,” the choice of Saul and the mantra of the time of the
Judges.This is a cry for men to stop coasting in neutral and put it into overdrive! We need, like never before, godly men that have a grasp of what God wants us to do here and now and to make that knowledge vocal. Oh sons of Issachar, come out and be heard! Israel had these mental giants, the times call for them again.
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