Genesis-157 – Sugar Chains

Genesis 49:13–15 (NIV)

“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheepfolds. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.” Amen.

 

The Comprehensive Meaning of Jacob's Prophecy and Its Connection to Christ

The passage we have just read is likely one of the more difficult sections of the Bible to understand, whether you are reading or listening to it. While we will discuss some aspects of translation today, it is important to recognize that translating the Bible is a profoundly challenging task.

 

As we have discussed, there are several perspectives on Jacob’s prophecies and last words. However, the first fact we must not forget is that these contents are not confined solely to the nation of Israel. In the past, Isaac fathered Esau and Jacob, but Esau was excluded from the line of promise, and only Jacob was chosen. This time, however, for the first time, all twelve sons will enjoy blessings as children of the promise. Therefore, we must remember that this is not just a story for Israel, but a comprehensive text addressing the spiritual goals, attitudes, and difficulties that all future believers must face. In other words, these words contain lessons intended for us today. Secondly, this is possible because the story given to the twelve sons eventually holds a deep connection with Jesus Christ. Since we are also united with Christ, this word has a direct relevance to us. I hope you keep these two principles in mind as you listen to the message.

 

The Order and Background of Zebulun and Issachar

Today, we will look at the ninth and tenth sons in terms of birth order. Although Zebulun and Issachar should technically appear later in the sequence, the reason we address them today is that they share the same mother. They are both sons of Leah. Previously, Leah’s first four sons—from Reuben to Judah—were mentioned, and because these two share the same mother, they are addressed immediately regardless of chronological order. Thus, Zebulun and Issachar have come to the fore. We will now examine the lessons each person provides and, in the final part, see why this word relates to us and how it connects to Christ.

 

The Meaning of Zebulun’s Name and the Apocalyptic Interpretation of the Geographical Prophecy

In the Bible, the name Zebulun was given by Leah when he was born, as she confessed, "God has presented me with a precious gift." Thus, the name 'Zebulun' itself carries the meaning of receiving something precious. A significant part of Jacob’s prophecy is that Zebulun will live by the seashore and his border will extend to Sidon. This is the first prophecy in the Bible to mention the specific boundaries where a tribe will reside. Many scholars believe this prophecy relates to the boundaries of the land the tribe of Zebulun received when Moses distributed the land of Canaan.

 

However, if you check the actual location of the allocated land in the Bible, you might be disappointed as it differs from expectations. Zebulun's land has no direct relationship with Sidon and is located entirely inland, not on the coast. To resolve this, some ask if it refers to the 'Sea of Galilee.' But from a linguistic perspective, it is more accurate to understand this as a "direction"—that they are oriented toward the sea and toward Sidon. Rather, this prophecy is not merely about geographical boundaries.

 

As we saw in the cases of Reuben or Judah, descriptions of their future usually utilize 'apocalyptic language.' It can be called prophetic language or metaphor. For example, when it says, "Judah is a lion's whelp," Judah is not an actual lion, is he? Likewise, the prophecy regarding Zebulun should be seen as revealing the unique characteristics and personality of that tribe apocalyptically.

 

The Sea and Sidon Symbolizing Wealth and God’s Blessing

While Jacob’s prophecies were previously expressed through tools like swords, specific place names suddenly appear with Zebulun. If we understand this also as apocalyptic language, we can find the meaning in calling Zebulun "a seashore." A seashore, as we commonly know, refers to the coast. Do you happen to know the cities of 'Sidon and Tyre'? These were strategic points connecting the Palestinian region, Asia Minor, and Macedonia, where Alexander the Great was later born. Sidon and Tyre were vital port cities where all kinds of trade flourished.

 

Therefore, the expressions 'seashore, Sidon, and Tyre' symbolize 'trade' via ships. To put it simply, Jacob is now blessing Zebulun by saying, "You will become wealthy." It is a prophecy that he will enjoy much wealth through trade. This is clearly a word of blessing. Some might worry about 'prosperity theology' and think, 'What kind of blessing is obtaining worldly wealth?' However, in the Old Testament, God demonstrated His grace visibly through tangible blessings such as material wealth or children. Although the meaning was deepened and transformed after Jesus Christ came, we must understand that, at the time, it was a way of expressing heavenly spiritual blessings through earthly things.

 

The Human Nature of Accumulating Wealth and the Danger of Reversing Means and Ends

While it is certain that Zebulun received a blessing, there is a part included in the middle that we often miss. Jacob prophesies, "Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships." In the English Bible, we can understand this meaning more clearly through the phrase, “He shall become a haven for ships.” Here, 'haven' carries the meaning of a 'shelter for ships' along with the meaning of the seashore we know. It means Zebulun himself becomes like a harbor where ships stay.

 

A seashore for ships means a port where ships come and go. The reason the Bible uses the expression 'seashore' instead of the word 'port' is that this word contains the connotation of a 'refuge' or 'hiding place.' In other words, it suggests that Zebulun has become a being who desires many ships to come in and rest, bringing him wealth, and who wants that wealth to stay by his side. It shows a tendency to become preoccupied with accumulating wealth as an end in itself, rather than managing the material things God gives or using them according to His will.

 

Ultimately, this prophecy reveals Zebulun’s unique character alongside the blessing God gives. It contains a warning that he will place wealth at the center of his life and show a desire to keep that abundance only for himself. It is an allusion to a kind of 'reversal of priority,' where the blessing God gave becomes the goal of life rather than the means.

 

Greed for Material Things and Internal Conflict in Faith

In our life of faith, this part is quite self-evident, yet it is a point the Bible constantly warns us about. Even though we frequently hear similar exhortations during sermons, we always find ourselves standing before this problem. What do we look like? Not only before believing in Jesus but even after getting to know God, we still struggle. We confess that God has allowed us many blessings, such as the material things and health we enjoy. And following that confession, we begin by vowing, "Now I will live using all of these things for the Lord."

 

However, that initial heart disappears, and as time passes, like Zebulun, we come to cherish the very fact that material things stay by our side. It is our nature to crave greater wealth once we possess it. People often say, 'Money isn't everything.' Do you agree with that? Behind the saying that money is not the end of life, there might actually be a hidden greed that regards 'more money' as the end.

 

Zebulun’s appearance was no different. Enjoying wealth through trade was not a bad thing in itself, but he gradually wanted to tie that abundance only to himself. Because he poured his heart only into accumulating the wealth that ships brought by becoming a seashore, he eventually reached a situation where means and ends were reversed. The heart that originally intended to use material things for God’s glory became corrupted, and he reached a dangerous place where he tried to use God’s glory as a tool for his own material abundance.

 

The Frailty of Using God Without Realizing It

We often use God without even knowing it, yet we frequently fail to realize that fact. Including myself, all of us might ask in return if we would really chase only money or health while believing in Jesus. Precisely because of the thought, 'I am not like that,' we are more likely to be deceived by ourselves. I am very sorry to say this, but this temptation is not something that can be defeated once and for all until the day we go before the Lord; it is a task we must constantly fight against.

 

Not only us but also the Apostle Paul and all the prophets we respect experienced such difficulties. During his ministry, Paul received harsh misunderstandings from believers, such as "trying to fatten his own belly" or "impersonating an apostle to embezzle offerings." He was so distressed that it was recorded in the Bible: "In order not to be misunderstood, I received nothing from you and worked for myself." Even though it is right for a shepherd who feeds the sheep to eat their milk and receive love and respect, Paul could not stand such criticism and gave up his rights voluntarily.

 

Because Paul had to act so resolutely, this problem of material things and greed is a difficult challenge that tests and plagues us throughout our lives. No one can be sure they are free from this problem, and regardless of the years of faith, it always tries to trip us up. Therefore, we must examine our hearts at every moment and reflect on whether God is truly the Master or if we are treating God as a servant to be used.

 

The Reality of Faith Shaken by Trivial Greed and Emotions

Friends, who among us can be completely free from money? While living in this world, we have no choice but to worry and fight against this problem. Yet, we sometimes think as if we have already transcended such issues. However, the truly difficult problems that hit you are not deep and mysterious theological puzzles. Except for special cases, it means you don't fall because of very subtle and difficult doctrinal issues.

 

What catches our ankles is very trivial greed, a little bit of pride, or small wounds received from others. Rather, those trivial things cause the greatest storms within us and ruin our faith so easily. Isn't that truly the case? Many members of the church live their lives of faith happily and joyfully, yet they often collapse as if they have lost everything because of a single word from someone. We are such fragile beings that we must admit it.

 

The characters shown in the Bible and we today are the same. We are never free from those problems. I once heard someone joke that they find the 'Ten Commandments of Money' more relatable than the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. That person said things like, "Thou shalt have no other gods before money" or "Thou shalt not take the name of money in vain." When I asked if they really thought so, they asked back if that wasn't actually a more honest confession. It was a bitter story that although they believe in Jesus, when things get urgent, they rely on their wallets and pray to them instead of God.

 

The Danger When Material Things Become Master

Everyone, there is a maxim well known as the words of John Wesley, although the exact source is unknown: “Money is often a good servant, but when money becomes the master, it is always a bad master.” If money is not just a means used for my needs but instead begins to control my everything, we collapse at an unexpected moment. Zebulun also wanted to be a seashore for material things. He wanted many things to be brought as ships came and went, and he did not realize that what he considered an unremarkable desire was suddenly becoming his master.

 

When God governs and becomes the Master, not only money but also my soul, life, and family find their rightful places. However, even if we call God “Lord, Lord” with our words, if we are acting as if we are the masters, we are actually treating God as our servant. How many such cases are there in our lives?

 

Even when praying, we sometimes ask God as if giving a command. In the past, there was an expression called 'tantrum prayer' (떼쓰는 기도). It's the thought that if you desperately throw a tantrum at God, won't He eventually grant it? Of course, what parent would not grant a request when a child clings so anxiously?

 

On the other hand, I do not think these prayers are necessarily bad. Our level of faith is what it is; how could we not throw a tantrum before God? It would be good to gradually learn mature prayer as we grow, but it is also awkward to pray in an excessively holy and formal manner that does not suit one's level. Just as it is natural to greet your father familiarly, saying, "Father, have you been well?" rather than using extreme honorifics you don't usually use and having a difficult conversation, the same applies here.

 

The Essence of Prayer and Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty

Believers, please listen to the prayers you offer yourselves once in a while. Listen to whether you are truly offering a prayer to God or if you are just trying to look impressive. It is very dangerous for our prayers to suddenly become commands toward God.

 

You can pray like a child throwing a tantrum as much as you want. However, there is one fact you must clearly remember. The sovereignty of the answer lies only in God’s hands, and the confession of faith that God will give me what is best must be the premise. That is the attitude of acknowledging God as my Master. If I demand what I want in my own way and resent God for not giving it, then God is not your King but your servant.

 

In that sense, the most dangerous boundary in Zebulun’s life was clear: it was that heart which, forgetting God’s sovereignty, sought only to become a seashore that draws in material things.

 

The Name of Issachar and the Translation Problem of the Donkey Analogy

What about Issachar? Issachar’s name is related to the famous 'mandrake' incident brought by Reuben. Mandrakes were a kind of love potion, and Leah gave them to Rachel and in return bought the right to sleep with Jacob. Because he was the son born as a result, the name 'Issachar' contains the meaning of ‘reward’—that is, ‘I have received a reward.’

 

However, regarding this Issachar, Jacob prophesies, “Issachar is a rawboned [or strong] donkey lying down among the sheepfolds.” As mentioned earlier, this text is very difficult to translate because the original text itself is so obscure. In the Korean <New Korean Revised Version (Sae-beon-yeok)>, it is translated not as a ‘strong donkey’ but rather as a ‘donkey with only bones left.’ Since it means only bones and skin remain, it becomes a completely opposite interpretation from the original meaning.

 

The reason translations differ like this is that the interpretation of words changes depending on how you view the overall context. The word ‘Gerem,’ meaning ‘bone,’ was used in the original text. However, this word has two opposite meanings. One is the meaning that the bones are sturdy and very healthy, symbolizing strength like 'big-boned' in our language. Conversely, it refers to a state where one has suffered and worked so much that the flesh is gone and only the bones remain gaunt.

 

Ultimately, two sharply contrasting translations emerged from one word, ‘Gerem.’ Then, which interpretation should we choose? To find that answer, we need to look at the overall context that follows.

 

Issachar Who Voluntarily Becomes a Slave to Pursue Good Things

The following words contain the content that Issachar becomes a slave and receives oppression voluntarily to obtain what is good in his eyes—that is, things that give peace and joy. It means he entered under the yoke himself to enjoy that good environment, even if he became a servant.

 

Let’s look at verse 15 again: “When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.” To summarize it in one word: “I want that good thing so much that I voluntarily offered my shoulder to carry the burden and chose the path of a servant. Even if I become a servant, I want to possess that.”

 

If we choose the translation ‘donkey with only bones left,’ it views Issachar as having become gaunt because he was oppressed. While not an impossible interpretation in context, a logical problem arises. This is because the state mentioned first comes first in sequence. It is not natural for a donkey that is already weak enough to have only bones left to see a good land and go in to suffer as a slave again.

 

Rather, it is much more contextual to see that a donkey that was originally strong was captivated by the comfortable environment and entered into suffering, voluntarily becoming a servant. Even though it was a being with sufficient strength and freedom, it gave up its freedom voluntarily for the sake of sweet peace before its eyes.

 

The Foolishness of Humans Who Give Up Freedom for Desire

The important core is not whether the donkey was strong or had only bones left. It is that as soon as he saw the good environment, he did not hesitate to become a slave because he wanted to possess it. This appearance reminds us of a very familiar scene. Listen to the confession of the Israelites recorded in the book of Numbers:

 

“Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” This is the complaint uttered by the Israelites in the wilderness, exhausted by the reality of eating the same manna every day. In fact, it's not that I don't understand at all. How could it be easy to survive 40 years by eating only manna dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? I can guess the misery of eating only plain rice without a single side dish, but the real problem is that they tested God.

 

They tested and doubted God’s power, saying, “Can God give us meat?” As a result, they suffered great pain, and there was something they always added at that time. It was “Let’s go back to Egypt.” Going back to Egypt means becoming slaves again. It is an absurd choice—that they would be fine with being servants tied in chains again as long as they could eat meat, leeks, and garlic.

 

Believers, is this really only a story of the ancient Israelites? You might think there’s no way we would do that, but the reality is not so. Within us also lurks the foolish heart that does not hesitate to become a slave to something if it means obtaining one thing we desire. The Bible is now indicting precisely that obsession and desire hidden within our inner selves.

 

The Modern Yoke Voluntarily Carried for Comfort and Possession

This is something I experienced when I once went to buy a mobile phone. Because both the salesperson and the customer there were Korean, conversation naturally flowed. I had gone for service, and the other customer had come to buy a newly released device. After that person fiddled with a very beautifully made phone for a while and made up their mind to buy it, there was a notice written next to it: ‘If you sign up now, there is a lifetime installment benefit.’

 

At first glance, it felt like it was being given almost for free, so it was a proposal that seemed quite cheap. When the customer asked, “Is a lifetime installment really possible?” the salesperson kindly replied, “Of course. 24 months is possible, and a lifetime installment is also possible.” At that moment, the customer stared at the salesperson and said: “Wait, a lifetime installment benefit? That’s not a good thing. That’s a life sentence, isn't it?”

 

Thinking about it, there was nothing wrong with that statement. It means you have to live paying off debt for the rest of your life. But everyone, there are surprisingly many among us who would struggle with such 'life sentence' installments just because they want a single mobile phone. Shall we expand the scope a bit? How about the mortgage of the house you live in now? If you have to pay it back for 30 years, isn't that also like a 30-year fixed-term sentence? Until that period ends, it isn't fully your house; in fact, it’s no different from renting. Nevertheless, because of the comfortable life to be enjoyed within it and the certainty about the future, we voluntarily enter under that yoke. These things happen very frequently in our lives.

 

The Reality of Humans Who Have Become Slaves to Pleasure and Obsession

Believers, we live by voluntarily becoming servants to what looks good in our eyes and what we want to do and like. What is the thing parents say to their children every day? Along with the urging to “Study,” it would be the reprimand, “Stop playing games.” Children never start with the intention of becoming slaves to games. They start simply because it’s fun, but what do they look like in the eyes of their parents? Parents fall into deep worry as they watch children who cannot seem to escape from games as if they were God.

 

If so, would the appearance of parents seen by children be any different? Can parents confidently say to their children, “I am different from you”? Children are merely stuck in games, but adults often live their entire lives caught in something. Because this is never a light problem, we must surely look back at ourselves. As was the case with Zebulun and Issachar, the thing that seizes us is sometimes money, and sometimes comfort or happiness, or the pleasure and enjoyment of the moment. For the sake of our own enjoyment, we are still repeating the act of voluntarily becoming a servant to something.

 

Sugar-Coated Chains and the Danger of Idolatry

The first thought that came to me while reading this text was, “This is just sugar-coated, but ultimately it’s making us slaves!” So I thought of the expression ‘sugar-coated chains,’ and surprisingly, there actually is such an expression in English. If translated simply into Korean, it carries a meaning like ‘poison coated in honey.’ Because the honey on the outside is sweet, you eat it frantically, only to end up swallowing the poison inside.

 

How many among us are truly free from such temptations? Once our interest begins to lean toward the pleasures of the world, we suddenly come to serve them as idols. This happens without even realizing that we have become slaves to something.

 

Seneca left a piercing word: “We become servants of ourselves in order to be free from everything.” This ability for self-reflection possessed by ancient sages still gives a great resonance to us today. The reason we still love Socrates’ maxim “Know thyself” is likely right here.

 

Historical Background and Shame of the Galilee Region

Believers, we have seen the appearances of Zebulun and Issachar, who either become seashores longing for abundance or slaves chasing sweet pleasures. However, their story does not end in tragedy here. They lived together with the tribe of Naphtali in the 'Galilee' region we know well. While the Bible records this place as a sea, geographically, it would be correct to call it a vast lake.

 

Israelites had a habit of calling a place a sea if there was even a bit of abundant water. They even called the large water basin—the ‘laver’—placed in the temple a sea. To those living in desert terrain, such a large amount of water gave a sense of awe like the ocean. Galilee also came to be called a sea in that context.

 

Zebulun and Issachar settled and lived near this Galilean shore. Even in the early days of the conquest of Canaan or the period of the Judges, great heroes and judges were produced from these tribes. However, as history flowed, the situation worsened. When the Assyrian Empire invaded Israel, the people of this region were driven out, and Gentiles flowed in in large numbers. Eventually, this place became a shameful land to the Jews, called ‘Galilee of the Gentiles.’

 

Isaiah’s Prophecy and the Light That Shone on Galilee

However, long before this tragic situation occurred, the prophet Isaiah had already prophesied it. The words of the book of Isaiah record it as follows:

 

“In the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’”

 

The period when the prophet Isaiah was active was around 722 BC, when Northern Israel was walking the path of destruction. Even though it was before the Gentiles completely seized the Galilee region, Isaiah prophesied that in the future, it would be called ‘Galilee of the Gentiles.’ This prophecy, proclaimed during that chaotic time when kings like Uzziah and Hezekiah ruled Southern Judah and watched the downfall of Northern Israel, was eventually realized exactly on the stage of history.

 

To the Jews, the nickname ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’ was an unbearable shame. To them, who prided themselves on being God’s chosen people, having their holy land regarded as a land of Gentiles must have been a great wound to their pride and a spiritual pain.

 

The Contempt for Galileans and Jesus of Nazareth

This humiliation grew deeper as history flowed. Around 100 BC, the Maccabean family started a revolution, reclaimed the land of Judea, and established the Hasmonean dynasty. They were originally from the tribe of Levi, not the tribe of Judah, but they tried to partially restore Israel’s independence and strengthen religious solidarity. At that time, a movement of pietism called ‘Hasidim’ arose, and they forced the residents of Galilee—which was called a land of Gentiles—to receive circumcision. At the brink of life and death, they pressured them to convert to Judaism at the tip of a sword.

 

Because of this, there were many people in Galilee who received semi-forced circumcision and became Jews with a heavy heart. So how would they have looked in the eyes of the Jerusalemites who prided themselves on being orthodox? They despised and mocked them, saying they were just fake Jews who yielded to the tip of a sword. The dagger-like words thrown toward Jesus later also share this context. Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, was a city belonging to the land of the tribe of Issachar. People disparaged Him, saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth? Isn't that Galilee of the Gentiles?” Trapped in the geographical limitation of Galilee, they failed to recognize the great light of life that began to shine from there.

 

The Light of Creation That Shone in the Shadow of Death

The reality of the prophecy proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah was truly cold. He not only declared to Galilee, "You are Galilee of the Gentiles," but even called it "the place shadowed by death." Isaiah revealed the miserable reality of that land without adding or subtracting anything. He could have attached slightly more hopeful and beautiful modifiers considering Jesus who would come as the light.

 

Usually, when a great figure appears, we tend to glorify even the place where they were born and raised. We want to believe and make up stories like, "That person was definitely different from birth." But the Bible never glorifies. Rather, it clearly defines it as "the place where the dark shadow of death resided." It asks Zebulun and Issachar, "Were you not like those who are dead?" Even though He gave them strength like a strong donkey while enjoying the blessings and graces God provided, He thoroughly indicts their reality—how they eventually became slaves to worldly greed and groaned under oppression. And in that very place of death, a marvelous reversal begins: "However, a light has dawned there."

 

This light is not a story on the level that a dark night has simply passed and dawn has come. It means that into the pitch-black darkness where sin and despair swallowed everything, a completely new light of life has penetrated. This reminds us of the creation event in Genesis chapter 1. When it said, "Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters," the creative history of "Let there be light" has occurred again.

 

The Apostle Paul cited this part of Genesis and interpreted the gospel of Christ this way: toward us who were trapped in darkness, the God who said "Let there be light" has saved us from death through Christ. Ultimately, the light that shone on Galilee was the light of creative salvation where God directly intervened in the history of humans which was filled only with despair.

 

Freedom from the Shackles of the Past, Present, and Future

What Jesus did does not stop at simply brightening the darkness as in the beginning of creation. It is the history of setting free those who were oppressed under the power of sin and had their lives completely stolen by the past, present, and future. There are many people around us who waste their lives caught in the trauma, wounds, or memories of failure of the past. There are countless people whose hearts are stolen by their current lives. Even among you in this seat today, there might be those whose hearts are divided by deep worries and difficult situations like ‘How should I solve this problem?’ while offering worship.

 

From trivial daily worries to grave problems, we live by taking away too much energy from the time called the present. Is that all? We also have our hearts stolen by the future that has not yet come. Concerns like ‘Will I be able to live without worry in my old age? How should I spend the long time after retirement in this 100-year era?’ follow one after another. As long as these thoughts occupy our hearts, it is difficult for us to realize who we truly are. It is our reality that we are constantly giving ourselves over to the shackles of time—the past, the present, and the future.

 

The Bible proclaims to such people. We are not those whose lives are stolen by worldly anxiety, but beings newly created in Christ. I hope you believe that God’s creation has been newly accomplished within us. Now we are not those bound to darkness. From head to toe, all my possessions and thoughts, the successes and failures of life, and the eternal future have been given to the eternal God, and we have become those seized by Him. This very fact is the fundamental power that changes our past and heals our wounds. Realizing that I no longer have any reason to be bound to the anxiety of the world and the darkness of the past—that is the beginning of the true freedom the Lord gives.

 

The Love of the Lord Who Embraces Our Burdens

The reason why the present 'I' must never collapse is clear. Even though the reality before my eyes currently looks daunting and difficult, even if my life does not seem that happy, and even if a deep sense of depression covers me, it is because a light more marvelous than anything else has already dawned upon us. The Lord does not turn away from us who have fallen into depression, but says He will embrace us just as we are. We commonly think we must shake off these heavy emotions as quickly as possible to go before the Lord, but the Lord’s way is different.

 

The Lord did not say to us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and leave your burdens behind and come with only your bodies." Rather, He calls us to come to Him while carrying all those burdens. The Lord desires to hold your painful past, weary reality, and anxious future in His arms altogether. This is the power of the prophecy Isaiah proclaimed and the core of our faith.

 

The Bible testifies: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The fact that the Mighty God came to this earth for us is the end of all situations. Since the Father who is with us eternally and the Prince of Peace is holding us, what more marvelous and sturdy comfort could there be?

 

The History Accomplished by the Zeal of God

The decisive part that marks the grand finale of Isaiah’s prophecy appears: “He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” And the following word is the core of all this proclamation: “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

 

God gave this word to Isaiah, and Isaiah proclaimed it to the people. And only after a long time of seven hundred years had passed, this prophecy was fulfilled. Seven hundred years—God’s scale is truly grand. While we talk about the 100-year era and feel impatient, God worked faithfully across hundreds of years of time. The promise given to Abraham was fulfilled after two thousand years, and the promise given to Adam and Noah was completed upon reaching Jesus Christ after a long time that cannot even be fathomed. The engine that constantly pushed this vast history was only one thing: ‘The zeal of God.’

 

Today, more than two thousand seven hundred years after Isaiah’s prophecy was proclaimed, this zeal of God has not stopped and has reached us now. At twelve o'clock on May 10th, the scene of this worship offered at Nampo Church in Gardena is precisely the scene where that zeal of God is being fulfilled. I hope you believe that the light promised thousands of years ago to dawn on Galilee is still working in your lives today.

 

The Basis for Entrusting Life to God

Everyone, if it is a person with this degree of zeal, stubbornness, and unchanging love, can we not entrust our lives to Him entirely? Walking the path of life together with such a person is truly a marvelous and blessed thing. Since we have never experienced such overwhelming love while living, it sometimes feels unfamiliar, but God has no sparing in this love toward you. The beginning of our faith was also this zeal of God, and the completion that will mark our end will also be the zeal and love of God.

 

Now the Lord is my King and my Monarch. The kings in history who struggled to protect their power as we see in movies or dramas—even King Sejong the Great, who is praised as a sage king—could not treat the people as perfectly as today's democratic values. Even in this era shouting for democracy, the many news stories heard from our homeland worry us. They put forward good words on the outside, but we witness the reality every day where power takes priority over people.

 

The King of the Lowly Who Washes Our Feet

However, this King we believe in is completely different from the kings of the world. He washed our feet and died for us, and He carried the weary and heavy burdens we bore instead. He is the one who entered that place of absolute curse—the cross full of pain and loneliness—on our behalf. Also, this King promises to help us by sending God the Holy Spirit so that we can live abundantly on this earth. He will become the Counselor Holy Spirit who helps us by our side and be with us eternally.

 

The world we live in is too far removed from the kingdom God delights in. Since the Lord directly lived on this earth in a human body, He knows better than anyone how weary the day-to-day we face is. The Lord also knows how many sighs we let out and how much pain and tears we must swallow just to keep one verse of God’s word. Therefore, God says He will personally be with us eternally while we stay on this earth. Until the end of the world, He will never leave us alone and will be with us until the end.

 

Our Pain That Cannot Defeat the Zeal of God

Friends, neither the heavy burdens we carry nor any work that makes us suffer can ever defeat the zeal of God. In our families and churches, burdensome works are bound to arise. There are surely moments so frustrating and distressing that it feels ‘strange not to fall into depression in this situation.’ We are disappointed and frustrated every time we face such things. We are disappointed in people, and sometimes we are wounded by the community, leaders, or the believers beside us.

 

However, everyone, neither your disappointment and frustration, nor your frustration and distress, nor even that despair where everything is thought to be over, can ever break the zeal of God through Jesus Christ. I hope you carve this faith deep in your hearts. The zeal of Christ and that extreme love were the beginning of our lives, and they will also be the final completion of our lives.

 

Let us pray.

The story of Zebulun and Issachar ends its grand finale with the shout of Christ that rang out in Galilee. The Lord, borrowing the lips of Matthew, proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The kingdom of God has come to us, and now we have come to live as citizens of that kingdom.

 

Lord, we confess that our true home is the kingdom of God and our citizenship lies only in the Lord’s kingdom. Please rule over us. Please raise us up who have knelt before the Lord while bearing the heavy burdens of life, and please govern us with that zeal and love of yours. Please give us new strength through the holy word, and please establish us perfectly through your powerful work. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.