“Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king. (Genesis 49:20)
We have looked at:
· 1st born Reuben. Turbulent in character lacking self-control and lacking in command to protect his younger brothers thus losing his father's trust.
· 2nd and 3rd born Simeon and Levi. Lacking wisdom and having an untamed anger. Vengeful with devastating aftermath.
· 4th born Judah. A leader, protector, negotiator, mediator and reconciler. He had the gift of persuasion and knew the right buttons to press. He was a royalty and he lived and acted like it.
· 5th born Dan (Bilha’s 1st son). A judge. Endowed with strength but misused it. Later on restored.
· 6th born Naphtali (Bilha’s 2nd son). Signified triumph over struggle. He was disobedient in executing God’s command just like Zebulun. Despite their ups and downs, they received a blessing from the Lord.
· 7th born Gad (Zilpha’s 2nd son). A fortune. Received a greater inheritance. Tenacious in pursuit of the enemy killing everyone of them and going the extra mile to help other tribes.
· 10th born Zebulun (Leahs 6th son). A haven of of rest for voyagers battered by life's storms. He was a safe harbor for those tossed by the strong winds in the seas. He also portrayed a conduit for the great commission, being the port of entry exit to other nations.
Today we examine Asher. He was the second son of Zipha, Leah’s servant, and the eighth son in order of birth. His name means happy. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy (Gen 30:12). Leah must have loved this battle and she was happy to be winning it. Of the 8 sons so far, Leah had given Jacob 4 sons from her own womb and 2 through her servant Zilpha. Her sister Rachael had none of her own but 2 through the servant Bilha.
Moses declares a blessing to the tribe of Asher and proclaims prosperity. "Most blessed of the sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil”. (Deut 33:24). Bathing feet in oil signifies prosperity.
However, just like Naphtali and Zebulun, Asher was disobedient. They failed to drive out Canaanites and lived among them (Judges 1:31-32). They basically tolerated the Canaanites. Later on, when Gideon asks for men to help him fight the Midianites, Asher was reluctant in providing men. Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves (Judges 5:17). Connection and tolerance of the Canaanites compromised their ability to fight against them. Perhaps they were doing business together or had intermarried and to rise up against Midian would be to oppose their in-laws, business partners etc.
We later learn that conviction overtook compromise and Asher, remembered on whose side they should be on, they responded to the call and provided with armed men for the battle to drive out Midianites and the Amalekites. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. (Judges 6:35)
Living in enemy camp can compromise our distaste for evil. When the Lord asks us to fight it, we rather stay inside and be relevant in the name of tolerance, political correctness or accommodating divergent views. God is looking for effectiveness not relevance. John 15:19 says “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Do you want to produce food that is rich and fit for a king? Then kick out compromise and too much slumber. Awake like Asher and join the army in fighting evil. Disband from the lopsidedness, lethargic, pedestrian, abject kind of faith that you are walking in. Instead rise up and attack evil on your knees. Like Gad, have the tenacity to not let up until every promise is fulfilled in the land.
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