March 12

Going Out with Joy

Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents. — Deut 33:18 BSB

The blessings of the tribes are ours, for we are the true Israel who worship God in the spirit and place no confidence in the flesh. Zebulun was to rejoice because Jehovah would bless his “going out”; we can also see a promise for ourselves hidden in this blessing. When we go out, we should expect occasions for joy.

We go out to travel, and God’s providence is our protection. We go out to emigrate, and the Lord is with us both on land and sea. We go out as missionaries, and Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We go out each day to work, and we can do so with joy, for God will be with us from morning till night.

Sometimes fear creeps over us when we start a new journey, because we don’t know what we might encounter. But this blessing can serve as a word of encouragement. As we prepare to leave, let us tuck this verse into our luggage and carry it in our hearts; let us keep it on our lips to make us sing. Let us set out with a song in our hearts or enter the vehicle with a psalm. Let us belong to the tribe that rejoices, and in every movement, let us praise the Lord with joyful hearts.