“Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimrom, four. And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.”
1 Chronicles 7:1, 5 KJV
The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four sons. The extended families of Issachar accounted for 87,000 warriors—all of them listed in the family tree. What was so special about the sons of Issachar? They were distinguished from the ranks because of their unusual gift to discern the times. Their understanding made known to the king that the sons of Issachar knew what Israel ought to do. The gift of discernment is valuable in times of uncertainty. In the new covenant, because of the redemption of all humanity through the Blood of the Cross, this gift of discernment has been given to the Church by the Holy Spirit. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the One Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. Let the Church move in the power given to us. Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment