Exodus 1:3

Letters to the Faithful - Exodus 1:3

Berean Standard Bible

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

King James Bible

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Hebrew Text:

יִשָּׂשכָ֥ר זְבוּלֻ֖ן וּבְנְיָמִֽן

Transliteration:

Yiśśāšḵār, Zəḇūlun, ūḇənəyāmin

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Issachar

Issachar was the fifth son of Leah and the ninth son of Jacob. His name is often associated with the idea of reward or recompense, as Leah named him Issachar, meaning "there is a reward," because she believed God had rewarded her for giving her maidservant to Jacob. The tribe of Issachar settled in a fertile region in the Jezreel Valley, which was conducive to agriculture. This aligns with the blessing given by Jacob in Genesis 49:14-15, where Issachar is described as a strong donkey lying down between two burdens, indicating a hardworking and industrious nature. The tribe played a significant role in supporting King David, as noted in 1 Chronicles 12:32, where the men of Issachar are described as having understanding of the times, knowing what Israel should do.

Zebulun

Zebulun was the sixth son of Leah and the tenth son of Jacob. His name is associated with honor or dwelling, as Leah expressed her hope that Jacob would honor her by dwelling with her. The tribe of Zebulun was allocated land in the northern part of Canaan, near the Sea of Galilee, which provided access to trade routes and maritime activities. This is reflected in Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49:13, where Zebulun is said to dwell by the seashore and be a haven for ships. The tribe's location and involvement in trade may have contributed to its prosperity and influence. Zebulun's territory is also significant in prophecy, as Isaiah 9:1-2 mentions the land of Zebulun in the context of the coming of the Messiah, a prophecy fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ in Galilee.

Benjamin

Benjamin was the second son of Rachel and the twelfth son of Jacob. His name means "son of the right hand," reflecting Jacob's affection and favor. The tribe of Benjamin held a strategic position in the central hill country of Canaan, with Jerusalem eventually becoming part of its territory. Benjamin's descendants were known for their skill in battle, as seen in Judges 20:16, where they are described as left-handed warriors capable of slinging stones with precision. The tribe's loyalty to the house of David is notable, as they remained with Judah during the division of the kingdom. Benjamin's significance is further highlighted in the New Testament, as the Apostle Paul, a key figure in early Christianity, was from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. To all who are called by His name, sanctified by the truth, and upheld by the power of the Holy Spirit, I write to you with earnestness of heart, mindful of the mercy in which we stand and the glorious hope to which we have been called. Let us give thanks always for the steadfast love of our God, who in every generation has shown Himself faithful.

Beloved, I call your attention to the ancient record of God’s dealings with His people, for the Scriptures were written not merely for remembrance but for instruction, exhortation, and perseverance. It is written in the book of Exodus, in the first chapter and the third verse, that Zebulun was among those who came into Egypt. He, with his brothers, sons of Jacob and grandsons of Abraham, came not by accident, nor by mere human arrangement, but by the sovereign unfolding of divine providence.

Consider the matter deeply, for it is no light thing that the names of these sons are recounted at the threshold of Israel’s oppression and deliverance. Zebulun, whose inheritance would one day be along the shores of the sea, a haven for ships and a gateway for commerce and communication, entered Egypt along with the others, under the shadow of famine, yet in the light of promise. These men, though unaware of the full scope of God’s plan, were carried along by His purpose. They were not great in number, nor mighty in strength, yet they were the foundation of a nation chosen to bear witness to the living God in the midst of a dying world.

And so I ask you: What is your Egypt? Where have you been sent, not by the might of your own will, but by the orchestration of the Lord’s hand? Where has He gathered you, that in the place of seeming exile, He might multiply you, shape you, and raise you up for His glory? Just as the sons of Israel entered Egypt in a time of need, yet emerged generations later as a people forged in the crucible of suffering, so too must we understand that our seasons of trial are not devoid of purpose.

The names listed in that chapter remind us that God remembers His people by name. He is not a distant force, detached from the affairs of men, but a Father who calls His children by name and leads them according to His covenant. Zebulun, though seemingly unremarkable in that passage, was part of the whole. There is no insignificant place in God’s record; no overlooked soul in His economy. Each life, each name, each moment—gathered into His plan, woven into His redemption.

Therefore, brethren, do not despise the days of obscurity. You may feel as though you dwell in a foreign land, far from the promises spoken long ago. But know this: the Lord is not absent in your Egypt. He is with you. He is multiplying your strength even in the midst of hardship. He is preparing deliverance before you can perceive it. Just as He raised up a deliverer for Israel in Moses, so He has given us a Deliverer in Jesus Christ, who has led us out of the bondage of sin and brought us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

In Christ, we are heirs—not merely of an earthly inheritance like Zebulun's shoreline territory, but of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We, too, are listed among His people, our names written not on scrolls of men, but in the Lamb’s Book of Life. What dignity, what assurance, what calling rests upon those who belong to Him! Let us, then, walk worthy of such a calling, with humility, patience, and love, bearing with one another, and remembering that we are one body, even as those sons were one household.

Zebulun entered Egypt with his family, but the story did not end in Egypt. God's purpose always points forward—to deliverance, to covenant fulfillment, to the sending of His Son, to the building of His Church, to the final gathering of all things in Christ. Let that same forward-looking faith be yours. Let your trials not define you, but refine you. Let your journey, though long and unclear at times, be sustained by trust in the God who sees, who knows, who remembers, and who acts.

May the God who called our fathers in ancient times continue to call us today—not to comfort alone, but to covenant obedience. Not to ease, but to eternal purpose. Let the record of Zebulun’s descent into Egypt be for you a reminder that every descent under God’s hand carries within it the seed of deliverance. Trust Him. Wait on Him. Serve Him. And do not fear the days of small beginnings.

Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, strengthening you for every good work, keeping you from all evil, and guiding you in peace until the Day of His appearing. Amen.

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Almighty and everlasting God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Sovereign Lord of all generations, we come before You with reverence and humility, acknowledging that You alone are God, and there is no other. From the beginning of time You have called forth a people for Your name, and through every age You have proven Yourself faithful. We thank You, Lord, for the sacred record of Your word, which speaks to us not only of past events but of present truth and eternal promises.

O Lord, as we consider the names of those who went down to Egypt with Jacob, and we come across the name of Zebulun in Exodus 1:3, we are reminded that You are the God who knows each of Your people by name. You are not distant from the details of our lives. You are the God who gathers, who counts, who remembers. You are the God who is present in both the going out and the coming in, in the descent into hardship and in the rising up of deliverance.

We acknowledge, O Lord, that just as You led the sons of Israel into Egypt for a time of preservation, You often lead us into places we do not fully understand. You ordain our seasons, You appoint our paths, and You are working all things together according to the counsel of Your will. Forgive us, Father, for the times when we have doubted Your purpose in unfamiliar places. Forgive us for when we have allowed discouragement to overshadow Your providence. Strengthen our hearts to trust in Your guiding hand, even when we do not see the full picture.

Lord God, as Zebulun entered Egypt with his brothers, we see a picture of unity in the midst of uncertainty. So we pray, Father, for unity among Your people today. Though we are scattered across nations, cultures, and circumstances, unite us in the bond of the Spirit, in the fellowship of Christ, and in the mission of Your kingdom. Let us walk together in faith, supporting one another, bearing each other’s burdens, and fixing our eyes on You.

We pray also for those who, like Israel in Egypt, find themselves in seasons of affliction or oppression. Remember them, O Lord. Strengthen them. Multiply their faith. Cause their endurance to bear fruit. Let not the fires of trial consume them but refine them. And when the time is fulfilled, bring them out with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, just as You did for Your people of old.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, You are the One who takes what is small and makes it great, who takes what is hidden and brings it into light, who takes what is broken and restores it. Let that same transforming power be at work in us. Let us not despise our beginnings or our present station, but teach us to see Your hand at work in the quiet and the ordinary. As Zebulun’s name was recorded not because of his greatness, but because of Your covenant with his family, so let our confidence be not in ourselves, but in Your eternal promises.

We thank You for Jesus Christ, the true Deliverer, who has led us out of the Egypt of sin and death, and into the freedom of life in the Spirit. Let us not return to the yoke of bondage, but walk forward in holiness, in obedience, and in gratitude. Just as You multiplied the sons of Israel in Egypt, multiply the fruit of righteousness in our lives. Make us a people marked by faith, by hope, by love, and by the testimony of Your truth.

Lord, teach us to number our days, to live wisely, and to serve You with whole hearts. As You remembered Zebulun and his brothers in the scrolls of Exodus, remember us today. Not because we are deserving, but because You are merciful. Write our names in the book of life. Write Your word upon our hearts. Write Your glory across our lives, that others may see and glorify You.

In every trial, in every blessing, in every unknown path—be our God, our refuge, our teacher, our strength. And when we are tempted to forget You, remind us of how You called a people by name and led them through darkness into light. Let the story of Zebulun and all the sons of Israel awaken us to the greatness of Your plan, which spans generations and culminates in Christ.

We pray all this in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You, Father, and with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.