INTRODUCTION
The previous message in this series, looked at Jacob’s prophecy on Judah, the ‘brethren of praise’. The Judah brethren attract praise because of their selfless acts of kindness and they bring praise to God. They are God-fearing and trust in God’s Word and His Power. Spiritually, they believe in God’s sacrifice for Salvation through Jesus Christ, and live by His Holy Spirit. Access previous messages at https://childrenofgraceministries.international
This message continues the series, by examining the prophecy of the Zebulun brethren. The concepts of “sea” and “ships” describe the Zebulun traits. The message reveals the darkened condition of the Zebulun brethren as “Satan’s merchants”; and their disposition to blaspheme against God. Yet, God’s light is made available to them by the gift of repentance and salvation.
- THE ZEBULUN HAVENS
According to Jacob’s prophecy, the tribe of “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon” (Genesis 49:13).
In the Holy Bible, the “sea”, is interpreted to mean “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues”. (Revelations 17:15). These represent the “wisdom of men”, the “wisdom of this world” or the wisdom of “the princes of this world”, known together as “worldly wisdom”, as opposed to the “wisdom of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:4-6). This “worldly wisdom” can be of individuals, groups, national, or worldly (global) constructs.
So, Zebulun “dwelling” at “the haven of the sea” speaks of our brethren who put their trust, faith and reliance on ‘worldly wisdom’ than in the “wisdom of God”.
- “SEA” HAVEN – WOLDLY WISDOM
‘Worldly wisdom’ upon which the Zebulun people depend, comes from the knowledge, education, learning, intelligence, beliefs, imaginations or practices, that are designed to entice and deceive people away from God and from the truth, that is “the power of God”.
This is the type of ‘wisdom’ that drives earthly kings, rulers and authorities, to conspire against God and his anointed ones. They will undermine divine authority or destroy the work of God in order to establish their own name and their earthly works. (Psalm 1:2-3; Acts 4:26). An example of such wisdom is the “Babel” conspiracy, where people sought to build “a city” or “a tower”, “whose top may reach into the heavens” in order “to make [for themselves] a name” (Genesis 11:4-6).
Consider that, when men conspire to impose ‘worldly wisdom’, beliefs, practices or doctrines over God’s words and works for their own glory, “nothing will be restrained from, which they have imagined to do”. (Genesis 11:6). They will go all out to expedite their evil imaginations. But brethren, “there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30).
- POLLUTED “SEA”
It is important to understand that ‘worldly wisdom’ (i.e. the “sea” haven) is polluted because they do not come from the “Spirit of God”; but from “the spirit of the world”. This ‘worldly spirit’ is Satan, known also as the “devil”, the “beast” or “Tyrus”. (Ezekiel 27:31; Corinthians 2:12-14; Revelation 12:9). The “sea” is inhabited by this “beast”, with “a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…” (Revelation 13:1 & 5; 17:3). His “mouth [is opened] in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in the heaven”. (Revelation 13:6).
For instance, he claims that he is a God; and that he “sits in the seat of God, in the midst of the sea”; but he is “a man, and not God”. (Ezekiel 28:2). In other words, the devil influences people to believe that ‘worldly wisdom’ is of God, yet it is of man. And note that, his “great wisdom” is a “corrupted wisdom”, full of dishonesty, craftiness, corruption and deceit. (Ezekiel 28:2- 5, 13 & 17; 2 Corinthians 4:2 & 2:17). It is the ‘worldly spirit’ that prevents the Zebulun brethren from appreciating the things that are freely given by God, and so do not praise him. (1 Corinthians 2:12).
- GODLY WISDOM
In contrast to the ‘worldly wisdom’, the wisdom that is of God is not calculated to deceive people from the truth. It is not aimed at taking personal or collective praise for the wisdom established such as to discredit the name and power of God.
On the contrary, the demonstration of godly wisdom brings glory to God. Such was the wisdom of King Solomon that “…there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom”. (1 Kings 4:32-34). And Daniel’s wisdom attracted much praise of God from the Babylonian and Persian kings. (Daniel 2.47; 3:28-29; 4:34-37; 6:26).
The “wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). It should “show out of a good conversation [a person’s] works with meekness of wisdom”. (James 3:13).
Also, natural man cannot teach or propagate the wisdom of God because “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God”. In fact, it is foolishness unto him. It is the “Holy Ghost” that teaches Godly wisdom, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. “For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1Corinthians 2:10-14).
- “SHIPS” AND MERCHANTS’ HAVEN
Since the Zebulun people put their faith and trust in ‘worldly wisdom’ over Godly wisdom, they “shall be for a haven of ships”. As ships are great and driven of fast winds in the sea, in which they do business, so are the Zebulun brethren driven and overcome by the great forces of ‘worldly wisdom’.
“Tyrus” is situate at the entry of the “sea” and is “merchant” of the people that trust in worldly wisdom. (Ezekiel 27: 3). And “…all the ships of the sea with their mariners [are in Tyrus] to [use his] merchandise” of worldly wisdom. (Ezekiel 29:9).
The “ships” thus represent those who boast of having ‘worldly wisdom’ and powers, those who teach them or use them; and the means (i.e. schemes and devices) by which the wisdom is spread on the earth. Their goal is to blaspheme against God’s word and power, mislead people and create strongholds for evil to thrive.
- SATAN’S MERCHANTS
‘Worldly wisdom’ is dispersed across the earth by the merchants of the devil. “[Satan’s] merchants [are] the great men of the earth; for by [his] sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Revelation 18:23). For example, Simon “used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one”. All the people gave heed to him saying, “This man is the power of God.” (Acts 8:9-10).
Brethren the “ships” who depict the “great men of the earth” that do business with Satan’s worldly merchandise of wisdom include: wise men, astrologers, stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, sorcerers, diviners, magicians, enchanters, soothsayers, false prophets, idols, unclean spirits of devils etc. (Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 47:12-13; 15; Daniel 2:22; 2:7). All these “ships” traverse the Zebulun “sea”. With his “great wisdom” and “his merchandise” using these mediums, Satan has increased in riches the prey of worldly souls and “his heart is lifted up”. (Ezekiel 28:2, 5, 13 & 17 and 29:9).
Likewise, the Zebulun brethren who trust in the riches of Satan’s “corrupt wisdom” are prideful at heart; they blaspheme against God and prey on the spiritually weak. They profess themselves to be wise, but they are fools; therefore they change the truth of God into a lie, and worship and serve the creature more than God, the creator. (Romans 1:22 & 25).
Only the “spirit that is of God”, the “Holy Ghost” can make the Zebulun people appreciate God and his works. (1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
Let us examine some of the attributes of the Zebulun brethren.
- TRAITS OF THE “SEA” BRETHREN
- BLASPHEMERS
Zebulun brethren will believe in ‘worldly wisdom’ over the true wisdom that is of God and his power, because of the polluted spiritual influence of the devil. These are the brethren who “deny the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Jude 1:4). They engage in blasphemy because they do not have the “Spirit of God”, that is the “spirit of truth” to discern and accept Godly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:14; 1 John 4:1-6). These are the deceivers and false prophets in the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. (2 John 1:7).
- POWERS OF DARKNESS
Our Zebulun brethren will always make war with those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17; 13:7; 17:6). This is because they possess the “spirit of the antichrist”, “the spirit of error” that is of the world. (1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:19; 2 Corinthians 2:14). They are the “principalities”, “powers”, the “rulers of darkness of this world” that engage “spiritual wickedness in high places” against the saints of God. (Ephesians 6:12).Brethren, do not try to challenge such people; but rather trust in the “whole amour of God”, which includes, “the shield of faith”, “the helmet of salvation”, and “the sword of the spirit” and “prayers”. (Ephesians 6:13-18).
- IDOLATERS & SPIRITUAL ‘PROSTITUTES’
Our Zebulun type relations are those who will follow, seek and listen to many false prophets, sorcerers, evil and familiar spirits, witchcrafts and wizards that peep and mutter, rather than seek unto God. Also, they are easily “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Isaiah 8:19-20). They are the gentiles who are led and carried away unto “dumb idols” and “graven images” (1 Corinthians 12:2; Isaiah 40:18-21).
- DEALING FALSELY WITH GOD’S WORD
People of God, you can also identify the ‘Zebuluns’ among your brethren relationships by the way they speak and deal with God’s word. For example, will not speak according to the law of God or his testimony in Christ. They will pretend to believe in the power of God, but will use dishonesty, craftiness and deceitfulness in dealing with God’s word.
- LUSTFUL & EVIL SPEAKING
The Zebulun folks will “lie against the truth”, or interpret God’s with their “earthly, sensual devilish” knowledge. (1 Corinthians 2:4; James 3:14-15). They will “speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves” (Jude 1:10). For instance, when the Pharisees could not understand Jesus’ healing and deliverance miracles, they claimed that he was possessed with the devil Beelzebub. (Matthew 12:22-28).
Brethren, Zebulun people are ungodly sinners, who walk after their own ungodly lusts, and yet complain, mummer and mock those who are godly. When the open their mouth to speak, their ‘tongue’ “is a fire”, a “world of iniquity”, that is set on fire of hell; “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”. They can speak against God, his servants and saints with “hard speeches” and “great swelling words”, and “perverse things” either to be admired by men, or to gain an advantage, or to draw away disciples after them. (James 3:6 & 8; Jude 1: 15-18; Acts 20:30, 31; Matthew 24:11,24).
For instance, when certain of the religious sect “were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which [Stephen] spake”, they disputed him and conspired to get him stoned to death. (Acts 6:8-15).
In the same vein, many of our brethren relations slander and defame the godly, because they cannot understand or countenance the ‘spirit of God’ that is in them. They are “raging waves of the sea, foaming out of their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved blackness of darkness for ever”. (Jude 1:13).
- BRETHREN OF DARKNESS
My people of God, the Zebulun brethren who trust in ‘worldly wisdom’ manifest the forgoing ungodly traits because they are of darkness. They are “lost” because “the god of this world” hath blinded their minds not to believe in God and the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Their darkness is such that even when they can clearly see the invincible things of God from the creation of the world, and understand by the things that they are made by the power of the Godhead, they still will not glorify God. Instead, they prefer to live by the vain imaginations of their foolish darkened heart. (Romans 1:20-21). The darkened condition of our Zebulun brethren is a grievous affliction by the way of the “sea”, (worldly wisdom), that exist “beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the gentiles”, that only God can redeem. (Isaiah 9:1).
AND GOD IS FAITHFUL! He has afforded to all the ungodly and the blasphemers that dwell in the grievous darkness of the devil’s “corrupt wisdom”, His grace through his gift of repentance and salvation. Christ has already asked them to “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 4:17).
Therefore, brethren, let us not be disheartened by the ungodliness and blasphemous conduct of our Zebulun relations. WE MUST PRAY FOR THEM.
Indeed “the LORD on high is mightier …than the mighty waves of the sea”. He can still the roaring of the “seas”. (Psalm 93:4; 65:7; 89:9). And by His Grace, “the people that [are] in darkness [will see the] great light: [and] they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them [shall] the light shine”. (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:16).
PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank You for Your word.
We praise you, for all who are redeemed from darkness unto light, from Satan unto God, by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God. Help them dear Lord, to build themselves on your most holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghost their faith.
We ask dear Father, that you shine your light upon the hearts of our Zebulun brethren to draw them unto Christ. Break all demonic strongholds over their minds. Keep them in your Love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
“Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever”. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)
We make this prayer in Jesus name.
Have a blessed week.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 04/07/2021
