Onyx- Asher
1. His Birth
Genesis 30:12-13- And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. Asher was Leah's handmaid's second son. Asher means happy or blessed.
2. The Patriarchal Blessing
Genesis 49:20- Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. His bread shall be fat is a reference to the quality of life. A blessed man will have a quality of life that is far greater than those around him. Psalms 1:1- Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 32:2- Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. And James 1:12- Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. A man who lives his life according the will of God, will receive blessings and have a happy reward.
Asher is also said to yield royal dainties. Dainties are attractive things. The Bible says it can be bad. Proverbs 23:3- Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. So, dainties can be considered meat. What would royal meat be? Hebrews 5:12- But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Christ said in John 4:34- Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. So, royal dainties is doing God's will and being strong in the Lord by growing in Him.
3. The Mosaic Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:24-25- And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
First, Asher is blessed with children. If we consider the Patriarchal Blessing, this could very well be spiritual children.
Then, there is a curious phrase- let him be acceptable to his brethren. Unfortunately, many times Christians can be he most jealous, petty people. When someone seems to succeed, others try to tear him down, or reject him. We must always remember that God's acceptance is much more important. Romans 12:1-2- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Dip his foot in oil should be looked at in the spiritual form, too. Olive oil, in the Bible, is a type of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Our feet should be bringing the gospel to the unsaved world. Again, tying back to being blessed with children.
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass. Asher is wearing armour on his feet. Ephesians 6:15- And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; The Bible tells us that our feet should be shod with the ability to spread the gospel.
Asher's Mosaic blessing all points to a man who submits to the will of God and is a soul winner. He's a happy man because of the rewards he brings with him to the throne room of heaven! And he does this with strength all the days of his life.
4. The Stone Onyx in the Breastplate
The onyx is neither showy, nor flashy. It is a dull, black stone. The blessings of the Christian life may seem dull to those who are looking at it through the world's view, but we shouldn't listen to what the world thinks.
