Bibledoorajar: What is Luxury to You?

 Jacob had told his sons to listen carefully to what their futures held. For Asher, he said this:

       "Asher's food will be rich;
       he will provide delicacies fit for a king."

Then Leah, Asher's legal mother,  said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher. Oh how happy Leah would have been to hear Israel say that her son and his clan would be called happy by others and that their bread would be rich and highly favored by his brothers. So good would it be that it would yield royal dainties beyond the everyday necessities. In Deuteronomy 33 Moses declared that Asher's foot should be allowed to be dipped in oil and his "feet" would become strong as metal. To have their foot dipped in oil implied that their worth would include the ordination of spiritual duties. At best, we know that virgin olive oil was used with various scents or balms for the consecration of spiritual objects.

The myrrh brought by the kings to the Nativity was oil mixed with balm or scent. The Babe was anointed and consecrated forever to be Christ, the Anointed One. Though a babe, His feet would become as strong as metal and He would be able to provide consecrated bread for all who would believe. This bread remains highly favored among Christians to this very day providing not only everyday necessities but also dainties beyond description.  For the Lord Jesus Christ is the living bread of eternal life, able to give health to body and soul.

"Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love."
  
                                          Mary Lathbury