# 447 Like A Merchant Seeking Valuable Pearls

The Book of Genesis

Day 447

Ge 49:13 "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.

I find this prophecy concerning Zebulon a little perplexing. Jacob says that the tribe of Zebulon will be a haven by the sea, with his border adjoining Sidon, yet when I look at a map of the tribes and their allotted territories, Zebulon is landlocked!  And they don’t even come close to the city of Sidon. In fact, Sidon was on the northern boundary of the tribe of Asher. What gives? 

Well, in spite of their initial landlocked geographical condition, they were blessed to be along major trade routes, and were thereby able to “feast on the abundance of the seas.”  Moses said this concerning Zebulon in De 33:18,19, “And of Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents!  19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand."

Their location along the trade routes gave them a direct link with the seagoing Phoenicians who controlled the port of Sidon, and there we see the connection.  It was the Phoenicians who provided the wood for the temple that Solomon built. Perhaps even more importantly, it was in Zebulon that Jesus would begin His ministry, just as the prophet Isaiah had predicted. We read of it in Mt 4:13-16, “And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,  14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:  16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

And we all know what the kingdom of heaven is like! “It’s like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,  46 "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.(Mt 13:45,46)

This statement of Jesus would be understood by all in His day because of the trading done by the tribe of Zebulon. They would understand the value of a pearl. This was the treasure that Moses spoke of in his prophecy that would be hidden in the sand. That pearl is the kingdom of heaven! That kingdom of course is still here today and it is the greatest treasure of all. The knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and life eternal for those who trust in Jesus.

The kingdom of heaven is like this: When someone realizes the value of this great pearl, they will gladly forsake all and surrender all to Him. Only God can help you see the value of this pearl and help you to forsake all and follow Him. Therefore, repent! Think differently about all you do, and all the worthless things that you desire to hang onto.  Rather, desire to follow Him, for the kingdom of heaven, the pearl that came out of Nazareth of Zebulon is at hand.