We are in chapter 49 of Genesis with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. חוֹף shore, coast, haven, a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament. Since it is used twice in our chapter let’s look at the other five uses first. In 6 out of the 7 uses it is used to describe a literal geographical area, a coast. Deuteronomy 1:7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the וּבְח֣וֹף coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. Joshua 9:1-2 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire ח֚וֹף coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. Judges 5:17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the לְח֣וֹף coast and stayed in his coves. Jeremiah 47:7 But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the ח֥וֹף coast? Ezekiel 25:15-16 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:…I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the ח֥וֹף coast.
What is interesting is that in our verse today we see both senses of our word used a literal shore and a figurative expression of a shelter. Jacob is still addressing his sons before he dies. Genesis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the לְח֥וֹף shore of the sea; he shall become a לְח֣וֹף haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon. Zebulun was located on an important route that carried merchandise from the coast to the Sea of Galilee and to Damascus. Moses said, “For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas” (Deuteronomy 33:19). For the most part, the Jews weren’t a seafaring people, but the tribe of Zebulun did business with the Phoenicians east of them and provided imported goods to the people west of them. However, they were also a brave people whose warriors had excellent reputations (1 Chronicles 12:33). Deborah and Barak praised the men of Zebulun for rallying to the cause and fighting Sisera (Judges 5:14–18). Elon, one of the judges, was from this tribe (Judges 12:11–12).
I like how God is described as our shelter in Psalm 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” God allows storms in this life that can be fierce and God gives us hope in the storms becoming our shelter. But not only this life but more importantly for the next. For both storms here and when Christ comes back we have hope in God our shelter and safe haven. I’ll close with these encouraging words from the New Testament book of Hebrews. Hebrews 12:26-29 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 6:17-20 We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
