1 Chronicles 7:5

Now their brethren among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, listed by their genealogies, eighty-seven thousand in all.

All the sons of Issachar were a strong and valiant people. All of the 87,000 of them! Not one less! They were not weaklings. There was total unity in the whole community. Not one family member was missing and left out. Everyone was doing well in the Lord! They were bearing one another’s burdens. Those who had much shared with those who had less so that all had sufficient. These blessings of true brotherhood flowed in them and through them to the other tribes of Israel. They shared their blessings!

Why are these sons of Issachar so strong? In Daniel 11:32, we find the answer. The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Issachar had four sons, namely Tola, Puvah, Job and Shimron (Genesis 46:13). The sons of Issachar were not the same as the sons of Joseph. Issachar and his sons went with their father Jacob to Egypt to escape the famine. The sons of Issachar were hit by the famine. They had to go down to Egypt to get food and water. It was Joseph who prepared the storehouse in Egypt and not Issachar! And Joseph was not a son of Issachar, he was Issachar’s younger brother. Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob.

Before his death, Jacob described Issachar as a strong fighter but his love for rest could also cause him to settle for the easy way out. In spite of his reputation for seeking comfort, the tribe fought bravely against Sisera (Judges 5:15).

We are living in a time where great courage is required. Courage to face reality, courage to overcome adversity, and courage to stand tall in the midst of calamities! It is time to open our eyes to see how big our God is in comparison to the events that are happening in the world. We are to be faithful as He is faithful so that those follow after us will be faithful with us being their examples!

God is sovereign, in full control of everything and every situation! In fact, God is the middle of everything, and thus we shall not be moved (Psalm 46:5). Nothing has taken our Almighty God by surprise! No evil is allowed unless He allows it. The political leaders are all under His power, jurisdiction and order – to do and fulfill God’s purposes. They are just like puppets in the moves and controls of the Master’s fingers! God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose until His words are fulfilled (Rev 17:17). He is still the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Facing a world that is shaken by wars and rumors of wars, we are to be unshaken! Whatever can be shaken will be shaken, and whatever cannot be shaken will remain! God’s kingdom is unshakeable (Hebrews 12:26-28) even in the midst of earthquakes, wars and disasters! We must know Who our God is; otherwise we will be weak and easily shaken! To be strong in the Lord, we need:

• Daily bread
• Daily drink
• Daily walk

The only way to be strong in the Lord is to abide in Him and Him in us. This is the time to return unto the Lord and His Word! The sons of Issachar know their Bible. How can we know God if we do not know what He has spoken to us through the Old Testament and the New Testament! It’s time to embrace His ways, statutes, laws and precepts – in which we will find life, we will wise up, and we will fear the Lord! His Word is our daily bread!

Our daily drink will be worship! Worship in the deepest is when mortality comes into contact with immortality; when time meets eternity; when darkness fades into light; when death surrenders to life and when fear turns into courage! It is time for us to be still and know that He is God! (Psalm 46:10)

Worship is more than just singing songs. We need to align our praise and worship with the purposes of God to touch heaven and change earth! Prophetic praise and worship offered by holy lives and pure hearts are acceptable in the sight of the Lord! We are called to be His royal priesthood – first to minister unto the Lord to know His heart, and then unto the people!

Our daily walk will be the work God has elected us to do! Those who are elected to be like Josephs will be able to feed nations in the midst of famine. Those who are elected to be like Daniels will be able to counsel kings and make decisions that will impact kingdoms towards God. Those who are elected like the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego, in the fiery furnace will be able to testify that God is still our Deliverer and Saviour! Those who are elected to be like Elijahs will be forerunners preparing the way of the Lord. Those who are elected like Moses will lead the people out of Egypt. Those who are elected like Joshuas will fight in faith as the Lord grants victory – and the list goes on! Therefore, we must give diligence to make our calling and election sure: for if we do these things, we shall never fall (2 Peter 1:10).

We must be strong in His Word so that we will be bold to do it His Way as we go against the system of the world. We have been doing things the way we have been schooled and taught. Now we are in the school of His Word and His Holy Spirit, our minds are renewed! God has given us His Holy Spirit so that His Word will be written in our hearts, He will be our God and we will be His people!

As sons of Issachar, we need to be strong in the Lord! Rejoicing always in the Lord for the joy of the Lord is our strength!

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