I bet if I asked you to name the twelve tribes of Jacob, right now, you would probably do semi well. You may even be able to name most of them; I could probably name eight or nine before I would have to start Googling something.
But one that almost everyone forgets about is Issachar. Seriously. I’ve heard thousands of sermons in my life and delivered hundreds more, and I don’t think I’ve ever – once – heard anyone mention Issachar (I’m sure they have, but I definitely don’t remember). Even their mentions in Scripture are usually relegated to genealogical lists and land allotments.
Admittedly, Jacob’s blessing to the tribe of Issachar in Genesis 49:14-15 is a tad underwhelming. He calls them a “strong donkey” who will “bear burdens” and “become a slave a forced labor.” That’s a marked difference from the rest of Jacob’s sons who made their living as shepherds. Instead of being in charge, they valued the life of a servant.
On the surface, none of that sounds very appealing. However, in those same two verses, he also describes them as having a perspective of contentment. They “saw the resting place was good” and noticed that “the land was pleasant.” This is a tribe that recognized a good thing and took advantage of it.
The little that’s mentioned of them elsewhere is equal parts unexciting and convicting. A single verse in 1 Chronicles 12:32 says that the tribe of Issachar was made up of men who “understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.” I don’t know about you, but that’s an amazing compliment. Would that we all understood our own times and had knowledge of what to do.
The tribe of Issachar was also a strong group of people. 1 Chronicles 7:5 says that their ranks numbered 87,000 “mighty men of valor” – a fact that was proven during the conquest of Canaan. In Judges 1:27-36, when half the tribes are criticized for failing to drive out the inhabitants of their inherited land, Issachar’s name is noticeably absent.
In a way, it’s fitting that the tribe of Issachar is so consistently overlooked. Issachar is not the oldest child of any of Jacob’s four wives, he doesn’t make any grand gestures (good or bad), and he doesn’t ever call attention to himself in any way. He simply goes on about his life, setting up shop in the smallest – but arguably the most beautiful – part of Israel, the Jezreel valley.
What a life.