Achsah‘s Blessing

Uplook – May 2023 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Achsah’s Blessing

This story definitely has a different cultural context than what many of us know in the present day. Caleb offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever could conquer the city of Kirjath Sepher. In the narrative we find out that Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, was the successful warrior. Reading between the lines and knowing about his positive character, I think that Caleb loved his daughter Achsah very much. Her name means “anklet,” and she was very precious to him. He wanted her to have a brave husband who would provide for her and protect her. He even gave her land in the South as a wedding present. This was kind, but it was also a test of faith. The land in the South* was dry and barren, and needed irrigation to be cultivated.

When Achsah asked for an additional field with springs of water, she wasn’t being greedy. She had a legitimate need that aligned with her father’s desire to bless her. Confidence in God finds its expression in prayer: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15). Here we have the assurance of answered prayer as a present possession. But we must remember that two conditions to this promise are:

1. Our requests must be according to His will.
2. God administers the answers in His own time and way.

Secure in her father’s love and confident in his care, Achsah approached him humbly and asked expectantly, with gratitude for past blessings. “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). She mirrored the same ambitious faith of Caleb (Josh. 14:12), and in reply he gave her the upper and lower springs. “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills” (Dt. 8:7) – Caleb gave Achsah an additional field which was like the land as Deuteronomy describes – one that contained both valleys and hills flowing with fountains and springs.

Our God loves to bless us and is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20)! He will supply all our need “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). He gives us both upper and lower springs of blessing – heavenly and earthly; spiritual and temporal. Through the hills and valleys, the highs and lows of life, He will provide for us. By faith, we can make even the Valley of Baca (“Valley of Weeping”) a spring (Ps. 84:6). God has promised never to leave us, and His grace can minister to us in our greatest needs. Indeed, if the valley of weeping can become a spring, just think of the upper springs of joy when, speaking of His people in a time yet to come, “the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17). We enjoy this blessing for ourselves as well!

As already mentioned, Caleb gave Achsah land in the South that needed irrigation to be productive. She boldly asked him for springs of water, thanking him for what he had already given her. The Lord likewise pours out His blessings upon us. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). He has given each one of us gifts and opportunities to serve Him. But without His grace, without the living water of His Spirit, our fields of opportunity will stay barren like the land in the South.

“What do you wish?” Caleb asked when Achsah came to him. In 1 Kings 3:5, the invitation of the Lord Himself to Solomon was, “Ask! What shall I give you?” In Elijah’s last conversation with Elisha, he said, “Ask! What may I do for you?” (2 Ki. 2:9). Caleb was not annoyed that his daughter came back to him with an additional request. He loved her and wanted to help her in any way he could. Our heavenly Father also desires to bless us! He loves it when we come to Him with our requests and will graciously provide us with everything we need to be fruitful and productive for Him. He asks, “What do you wish? What shall I give you; what may I do for you?”

Like Achsah, let us boldly approach the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), asking for the Lord’s blessing in each area of our lives! The Lord has given us so much, but we needn’t be ashamed to ask for still more. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Lk. 11:9). Like Achsah, may we pray, “Lord, give me a blessing; thank You for everything You have given me, but give me also springs of water. Supply my soul with living streams so the fruit of Your Spirit may flourish within me.” Following the pattern of Achsah’s petition, here are some examples of thanksgiving followed by requests for specific blessings mirroring the fruit of the Spirit, which may be applicable in your life: 

• “Lord, thank You for my spouse: give us love and joy in our marriage.”
• “Lord, thank You for my children: give us peace and patience in our home.”
• “Lord, thank You for my friends: give me kindness and goodness in my relationships.”
• “Lord, thank You for my job or ministry: give me faithfulness and meekness to do all for Your glory.”
• “Lord, thank You for Your Word: give me self-control to ignore the distractions and sinful temptations around me so I may enjoy fellowship with You.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness [meekness], self-control. —Galatians 5:22-23

ENDNOTE
* Negev: a large desert and semi-arid region of southern Israel.

By Tim Bouter