The Ministry of                     Pastor G. Curtis Patterson

1 Chronicles 12:32: 

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

• Issachar – The meaning of this name is “he will bring a reward, man for hire” (Strong’s Heb3485 and Holman Bible Dictionary).

The Meaning the Issachar Anointing

By virtue of the name Issachar, we see that those who walk in the character and calling of Issachar bring a sure reward to the Lord as well as a reward to the vineyard in which they are working.  Their mind is cunning, able to mentally distinguish between that which is wise and unwise.  They diligently pursue the understanding needed to live well before the Lord.  Issachar men and women receive understanding from the Lord Himself, because they know God in an intimate manner.  Because they are wise and prudent, Issachars are able to perceive and seize opportune times of success and wealth.  

The Value of the Issachar Anointing

The Issachar anointing brings the understanding of times and the knowledge of what to do; this anointing brings with it vision and counsel.  The Issachar anointing puts in proper timing the plans of God.  Every vineyard is in need of this anointing.  Imagine a mule loaded with several loads/burdens.  Those loads/burdens could contain water, food, tools, blueprints, a decree from the king.  It is what the mule brings to the vineyard that enables the people to prosper in their mission. 

When we bring God’s wisdom and understanding into a situation, we bring enrichment to the work of that vineyard.  The Issachar anointing brings revelation and prosperity to whatever vineyard it operates in.  Vineyards that embrace the Issachar anointing become abundantly fruitful fields.   

Issachar was able to bear burdens because he operated from the place of being in his God.  Jesus told us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Issachar rolled his burdens onto the Lord and took up the Lord’s yoke, not his own.

Issachar is a picture of the costliness of intercession: “…and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute.”  Our model and source for this is found in Christ:  “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).  We are grateful to have a dimension of this depth of burden bearing.