Following on from the recent three-part series on worldviews and "understanding the times," I started digging a bit deeper into the background of the tribe of Issachar in the Bible, focusing mainly on this tribe's prophetic significance in God's unfolding plan for mankind in general, and for us as kingdom business professionals.

Issachar was the fifth son born to Jacob and his first wife Leah (Gen. 30:18), coming between Judah and Zebulun. In blessing his sons, Jacob said of Issachar: "Issachar is a strong beast of burden, resting among the sheepfolds. When he sees how good the countryside is, how pleasant the land, he will bend his shoulder to the task, and submit to forced labor" (Gen. 49:14-15).

Issachar, even at this early stage, showed that he is prepared to submit to authority and put his shoulder to the wheel. He could also discern opportunities by seeing "how pleasant the land" was and how to take advantage of the situation. Issachar had the ability to "understand the times"—to see what he should do, and to obediently do it!

In 1 Chronicles 12:32, the descendants of Issachar are still able to see what they should do, and develop a strategic plan to achieve their goal. In this Scripture, of all David's men, they uniquely understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Issachar had only 200 leaders within a total force of 336,000, yet they were able to plan, set vision, and ensure that Israel did the right thing at the right time. Their numerical significance was totally eclipsed by their prophetic significance, a lesson we in the business community should learn when we feel like we're a tiny minority in an overwhelming sea of the selfish, ungodly, dishonest and depraved.

We do not have to be a majority to make a difference. This is the lesson we learn from the leaders of Issachar. Indeed, God and you make a majority in any circumstance!

Prophetic Accuracy

Rodney W. Francis, in his article, The Ongoing Impact of the Prophetic, puts it this way: "In the Old Testament, one of the tribes of Israel was Issachar. It appears that down through the ages, they had an ability to pursue, develop, influence and administer the prophetic in a powerful way ... their prophetic giftings were carried on from generation to generation.

"The sons of Issachar were so 'accurate' in an ongoing way that their prophetic insight, understanding, knowledge and giftings promoted them to a decision-making responsibility for David and his men. They knew what had to be done, and they knew what they had to do."

In Deuteronomy 27:12-13 the men of Issachar were numbered among the tribes that would stand on Mount Gerazim and proclaim a blessing on Israel, and in Deuteronomy 33:18-19, "May the people of Zebulun prosper in their expeditions abroad. May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their tents. They summon the people to the mountain to offer proper sacrifices there, they benefit from the riches of the sea and the hidden treasures of the sand."

In Judges 5:15, the leaders of Issachar helped the judge/prophetess Deborah to strategize and defeat Sisera and the enemies of Israel.

The people of Issachar are primarily "headquarters people," staying "at home in their tents" to plan and strategize, working with and advising the nation's leaders. They also minister to the rest of the people, and guide them in going higher in the purposes of God, and making "proper sacrifices." They know how to benefit from the wealth in the sea and the treasures that are hidden in the land.

As Rodney Francis says: "No one benefits when the abundance of the seas is not harvested and the hidden treasures are not dug up. The sons of Issachar knew how to get those things done.

"They carried a mantle to bring prophetic insight, focus, blessing, provision, abundance, sacrifices of righteousness, support to the prophets/prophetesses, and to people on the home front. They were strong people and valiant ... providing the right things to the right people in the right place at the right time.

"The children of Issachar had the spiritual ability to perceive and discern the times or seasons they were living in. That made them prophetic. It gave them an ability to live in the 'now' of God's purposes—'to know what Israel should do and the best time to do it' (GNB). Their ministry instilled confidence into the people because of their unique understanding and knowledge, which was beyond the ordinary.

"David delegated much responsibility and decision-making to the sons of Issachar. He knew the accuracy, truthfulness and reliability of their God-given abilities. The result was David released them to function and fulfill their destiny, and they helped and released David to become the king of Israel."

Understanding The Times

Never before in history, as we move into the end times, has the need to understand the times been more vital. Like the "sons of Issachar," we must make sure we can understand and discern what is going on around us, and be able to provide "the right things to the right people in the right place at the right time."

Kingdom business professionals operate in the global marketplace of goods and ideas. As long as we understand the times, we have a unique opportunity to impact the world around us, and to play a material role in helping to fulfill Matthew 24:14—"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come."

Business and professional leaders can be likened to the 200 prophetic "leaders of Issachar" in the book of 1 Chronicles. They may not be a numerical majority in the global marketplace, but I have no doubt that anointed kingdom business professionals can change the world in their time, and have been called to the kingdom "for such a time as this" (Esth. 4:14).