Legacy series, part 3

All these were the sons of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, heads of the princes. And the number of them enrolled by genealogy for service in war was 26,000 men. I Chronicles 7:40)

I have a question in my mind as I conclude this study..... exactly how DID Asher raise such sons, daughters, and grandkids? What's the formula?

Well, there is no magic recipe, but I think we can point out some things and see how we can do the same.....
First of all, Asher didn't let his past control his future. He broke the cycle, as they say today. If we look back at Asher's dad, we know that Jacob was not exactly a sterling example for any of his sons to follow. Much of his life, he was pretty self-centered, and a deceiver, as well. He played favorites with his sons, had multiple wives and also had children by one of his wives' servants. Not a pretty picture. In spite of all this, Asher was able to overcome this poor example of fatherhood, good husbanding, and leadership, and actually raised a noble family. Apparently, Asher decided that he would not look back, but forward. He would break the cycle.
If we apply this to our own lives, we may not be able to change what happened before us, but we can definitely influence what will happen after us.

Secondly, Asher set an example for his children to follow. I think he must have given it a lot of thought, and decided that he would be a good example. Tradition says that he treated his wife well, and gave deferential treatment to her daughter. Apparently, he treated his daughter with just as much respect as his sons. He seems to have had a work ethic that inspired his progeny to strive to be the best, and he led them in worship of Jehovah.
Applying this our own lives, we may not have all the answers, but we can be an example to our children, or to younger believers, of someone who takes their relationship with God seriously.

Next, it seems like he trained and counseled his children while they were in his home. Before they "left the nest" and moved on to establish homes of their own, he instilled his work ethic in them. There's another reference to Asher (when Jacob was blessing all of his sons) that seems to point to his being a hard-working, steady kind of man. Here it is for our study in several translations:

“Asher’s food will be rich;    he will provide delicacies fit for a king." (Genesis 49:20, NIV)

“Asher will dine on rich foods    and produce food fit for kings." (NLT)

“Asher's land will produce rich food.He will provide food fit for a king." (GNT)

It speaks of Asher, of his work, and of his land. Seems like Asher wasn't a flamboyant kind of guy, but someone who took what was given to him and maximized it. He was an ordinary man with a strong work ethic, and it appears that he instilled that in his children.
Applying this to our own lives, perhaps this is a good reason to give children chores and responsibilities and teach them how to work. For those of us who don't have kids, perhaps we can counsel young believers to assume responsibilities that are offered to them, and work to the glory of God.

Lastly, Asher must have done all of this, one generation at a time. Asher taught his children and probably his grandchildren; they in turn instilled these values in their children. By the time we see the verse in I Chronicles, Asher is gone, but his legacy is still living on.

Are we working actively to be examples to our children? To our grandchildren? To young believers? Our legacy is up to us.....