Sunday, February 19, 2012

Joshua 15:16-19 (Acsah - Give me more!)

Joshua 15:16-19 (Give me an extra blessing!)

Most of this section is repeated in Judges 1:11-15.

(16) Caleb said, “I will give my daughter *Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures
**Kiriath-sepher.”

  • *Acsah can mean "anklet", “Adorned” or “Bursting the Veil.” Most expositors cite "anklet" as the correct one.
  • Caleb was not only a man of great and bold deeds (the driving out of the children of Anak), but also a man who encouraged others to great and bold deeds. He did this by offering his daughter in marriage to the man who was bold enough to conquer a city to have her. Caleb wanted the bravest most responsible man in the tribe of Judah to marry his daughter - not some wimp - a leader, not a follower. He knew only the best would think she was worth it! But, many see this as sexist and offering up his daughter as a prize - that his daughter was just some possession to be sold to the highest bidder. I see it as finding the best man possible to marry his daughter who would be able to take care of her well.
  • **Kirjath-sepher means the city of the book. It was possibly so named because an ancient library was located there - but a library of what kind of books? Its name was changed later to Debir, which means the oracle or the word, and suggests that Word of God through which He speaks directly to His people.

(17) *Othniel, the **son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.

  • *Othniel means "lion of God." Some of Caleb's daring faith rubbed off on his son-in-law, who became a judge in the land:
    • Judges 3:7-11: The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. Then the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the LORD gave Othniel victory over him. So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
    • Naturally, Othniel didn't conquer the city single-handed; he was a leader of men and became the head of Caleb's tribe and the first Judge of Israel.
  • **son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz: So, Othniel is Caleb's nephew!
  • Now, here is Othniel, the nephew of this great man. He shows the same characteristics as his uncle. It would be a wonderful thing if all the nephews and sons of the men of God were to follow the pathway of faith, but sadly, they do not. Many of them give up, many of them have no interest in divine things; but here was a true follower of and inspired by his uncle. Here was one who exhibited exactly the same features of courage, determination and faith in order to do the things that were pleasing to God.
  • It is quite possible that Othniel was in love with Acsah before her father made this proposal. It is also possible that Caleb was aware of it and looked favorably upon him, but decided to put him to the test before finally committing himself. It was an honor to wed the daughter of the man who was the chief of his tribe so marked by faith and bravery, and to be united to one who we cannot doubt had been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: such a woman is to be desired far above one who is endowed with the riches of this world, or possesses little else than a pretty face.

(18) When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”

  • Notice Acsah is prodding her new husband to ask for land. What happens next? No response, no words from Othniel at all, and certainly no. Conquering a city is one thing, asking the great Caleb
    for a favor was another! So, she went around him and went directly to her father!

(19) She said, “Give me another *gift. You have already given me land in the **Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the *upper and lower springs.

  • *gift: This refers to the bridal gift of Caleb to his daughter Acsah and Othniel; i.e., land in the Negev. She appreciates what she was given, but she's asking him to enlarge the gift to make it worth much more.
  • **Negev (south country) was the dry, parched desert or wilderness area. Caleb’s daughter was really saying, “You have given me a dry or an arid estate - what kind of a gift is that? I need MORE!”
  • *upper and lower springs: In the desert, water springs are very important and strategic. Whoever who controls the water controls the area. Without water, nothing grows. Without water, all living things die. A spring is a place where water comes to the surface of the desert. Normally water is absorbed into a porous soil and then sinks until it encounter a non-porous rock such as igneous (volcanic) rock. There it remains until it finds an outlet where it flows to the surface. However, depending on the source of these springs, it may dry out in summer or very hot seasons. These are the upper springs. Some water collects in large underground chambers. So, it is under pressure and is what we called the artesian wells. They never dry up. These are the lower or nether springs. London and Paris are situated over such reservoirs. South and Western Australia has a large reservoir. These wells or springs never run dry. So Caleb was very generous when he gave to his daughter, Acsah, both the upper and lower springs.  In modern day Israel, the desert is a major agricultural area because of water from these springs.
  • It is Acsah who goes on to ask Caleb for a blessing. Caleb knows his daughter well and may even be smiling inside (he knows that look) and he gives in immediately! This may be an assertive woman who knows the practicalities of living on the land, who knows that if she is to live here, then the land needs to be productive, and for that water is a must.
  • There's supposed to be a lesson here for us - an entire sermon could be written about this incident!
  • How often is a woman named in the scripture - not often and so we need to pay close attention! Joshua is an account of great warriors. In all of 24 chapters, women only come up 3 times: Rahab, Acsah and the Daughters of Zelophehad (Joshua 17:3-6).
  • Now, ask yourself this question - why did Caleb give Othniel and Acsah desert land - not worth anything without water?

RELATED BIBLE VERSES:

  1. Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
  2. Proverbs 18:22: The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.
  3. Proverbs 31:10-31: Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:  “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
  4. Jeremiah 33:3: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
  5. Matthew 7: 7-11: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
  6. Ephesians 3:20-21: Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
  7. Ephesians 5:25: For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
  8. James 4:2: You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
  9. 1 Peter 3:7: In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

APPLICATION and LESSONS to LEARN:

  1. Just as Caleb's faith became his son-in-law's faith, we are responsible to passing on our faith to the next generation and responsible to being sure our children marry spouses of faith. We also see Caleb's faith in his daughter - and her daring to stand up for herself. Caleb's example of faith was more valuable to his family than the property he claimed for them.
  2. Getting back to Caleb's daughter Acsah, she asked for "springs of water". Think of it as wanting one's inheritance and having the Spirit of God within her in order to appreciate and use the land being given to her and her husband. In other words, this little story of Acsah is another example of living the Spirit filled life of trusting God with every aspect of our lives.
  3. The inheritance is ours to possess and enjoy. Acsah proved that, by asking, she was able to receive the springs that were needed for her enjoyment of the land. If there are areas of my life that deter me from the enjoyment of all that God has for me in Christ, then deal with them before they spoil the enjoyment of the possession. The possession itself cannot be spoiled but the appreciation and pleasure of it can.
  4. Acsah is a picture of the true successful pleader with our Father in heaven. She saw that the land her father gave her would be of very little use to her husband and herself because it needed water-springs. So she goes to her father with a very definite request, “Give me also springs of water.” The gift I am going to ask is not of a stranger, who does not know me; but of a father, in whose care I have been ever since I was born.” This thought ought to help us in prayer, and it will help us when we remember that we do not go to ask of an enemy, nor to plead with a stranger; but we say, “Our Father, which art in heaven.” Do you feel the spirit of sonship in your heart? If so, this ought to help you to pray with a believing tone. So this good woman, Acsah, feeling that it was her father of whom she was going to ask, and seeing that her husband hesitated to join her in her request, made the best of her way to go and pray alone. “Well, well, Othniel, I would have liked you to have gone with me; but as you will not, I am going alone.” So she gets on the donkey and she rides off to her father. The grand old man sees his daughter coming, and by her very determined look he knows that she is coming on business. This was not the first time that she had asked something of him. He knew her usual look when she was about to petition him; so he goes to meet her, and she alights from her donkey, a token of great and deep respect, just as Rebecca, when she saw Isaac, alighted from the camel. She wished to show how deeply she reverenced that grand man, of whom it was an honor to be a child. Acsah pays reverence to her father; but yet she is very brave and determined in what she is going to say to him. Learn from this good woman how to pray. She went humbly, yet eagerly.
  5. But this good woman used this plea in a particular way: she said, “You have given me a lot of dry land; give me also springs of water.” This was as much as to say, “Though you have given me land, and I thank you for it, it is no good to me unless I have water for it. My husband and I cannot get a living from it unless you give us springs of water.” Do you see the way you are to pray? ” She knew what she was praying for; and that is the way to pray. When you ask of God, ask distinctly: “Give me springs of water.” You may say, “Give me my daily bread.” You may cry, “Give me a sense of pardoned sin.” You may distinctly ask for anything which God has promised to give; but mind that, like this woman, you are distinct and plain in what you ask of God: “Give me springs of water.” Observe, her father gave her what she asked. She asked for springs, and he gave her springs. Next, he gave her in large measure. She asked for springs of water, and he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. The Lord “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask, or think.” Some use that passage in prayer, and misquote it, “above what we can ask or even think.” That is not in the Bible, because you can ask or even think anything you like; but it is “above all that we ask, or think.” Our asking or our thinking falls short; but God’s giving never does. And her father gave her this without a word of upbraiding.
  6. This section illustrates the importance of fathers and mothers to encourage their children to marry Godly men or women, though sometimes the children pay no attention and don't listen to sound, Godly advice and marry the wrong person - leading to trouble down the road. How many girls marry to get out of a bad home or marry a guy thinking she can reform him? Look at how Caleb carefully sought a good husband for his daughter. As parents, we must not give away the treasure of our own daughters to one who is not a believer. Othniel had a vision for the right girl. He put his reputation and his life on the line to win her!
  7. Ruth’s hand came to a man blessed of God and Naomi encouraged it that way. Ruth was a woman of faith, Ruth 1:16 “…thy God my God…” as was Boaz. Ruth 2:4 “…the LORD be with you…” Ruth had “…grace…” Ruth 2:10 She was a woman of faith and sacrifice. Ruth 2:11 A woman “…blessed…” Ruth 2:12, 19, 20 Ruth was a woman with a selfless servant’s attitude. Ruth 3:5 She was virtuous. Ruth 2:11 Boaz saw she was a good investment. Ruth 4:8-10 “…purchased…”
  8. Abraham helped Isaac find God’s perfect will in Rebekah.
  9. Othniel became a great judge of a great nation and Acsah was there right beside her man. This would have never happened had not Caleb put forth the challenge.
  10. May the faith of Othniel and of Acsah be duplicated in us, who through grace have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. May we be so yielded to the indwelling Holy Spirit that He will make very real to us the precious things of Christ, and thus give us to enjoy our inheritance to the full.
  11. It is a marvelous thing to have a good wife, a wife with spiritual desires, and that is what Othniel fought for and won.
  12. It might seem to us at first that Caleb is not treating his daughter very well when he offers her as the prize for bravery. But, we need to recognize that Caleb’s challenge to the soldiers would ensure that his daughter married a strong and brave man who would more than likely be the leader of the family and provide for her. I think we can also conclude that if this warrior took the city, it would be because he had faith in God. That was the only way the Israelites ever won a battle. So the chances were also good that Caleb would be providing a man of God for his daughter. So, I conclude from this section that Caleb is going to find a good husband for his daughter. Caleb’s gift to his daughter also illustrates the protective concern which fathers should display towards their wives and daughters.
  13. Othniel is a role model - as are Joshua and Caleb too. In Judges 3:7-11, we will read of more of Othniel’s exploits as he defeats Cushan-Rishathaim.
  14. With two good men from different generations thinking Acsah was so remarkable, she probably was. Acsah must have felt especially close to her father also. She felt comfortable enough to tell her husband to ask for land from her father, and after he had given them land, she felt secure enough to pay a call on him and ask to be blessed with some land with springs as well. If this father and daughter didn’t have a good rapport and trust, she probably would not have felt free to make these requests.
  15. Caleb wanted his future son-in-law to be like himself - strong and not easily given to fear and doubt. He wanted a man who walked in faith and not in fear.
  16. Caleb seems to have been quite familiar with his daughter and figured she didn't just come to visit for fun because he immediately asked her what she wanted. And she was sure of getting her way since she answered in a forthright manner. “You have given me the land of Negev (a dry and arid place), now give me springs of water.” This would change her new husband into a man of great wealth and give her children an inheritance that would last for generations. The land was currently almost worthless without this vital moisture. Her father bestowed upon her TWO springs, the upper and lower. She knew to request the best. She asked and received more than what she asked for - a prayer pattern for us. Also with an unlimited water supply, travelers and caravans would stop, thereby bringing trade and paying for the right to rent space on the property. This was life changing for her family.
  17. My Heavenly Father loves to give me good gifts…sometimes he’s just waiting for me to ask. But, He also knows that I sometimes ask amiss because I don't realize that what I'm requesting is outside of His will for my life and what is best for me because I can't see down the road, but He already knows my future.
  18. Once, when discussing this section with my son-in-law, Gary, and my older daughter, Debbie, she related a story in her own life that relates to the story about Acsah asking for water - and she told it better than I can. One day, she realized that she was late on paying her Kohl's charge. So, she called Kohl's and spoke to a man and told how she was past due because she'd gotten distracted from her plan of going to the store to pay the bill. So, she asked how much she owed including the late charge. The story goes on much longer than I can relate here, but the man told her what the penalty was and what the total would be and noted that he saw she was a long time customer and had always before paid her bill on time. He then several times asked her what she wanted him to do with the penalty. Finally, Debbie realized that he was not allowed to cancel the penalty but could if she simply asked. So, when he asked once again what she wanted him to do with the penalty fee, she asked him if he could delete it and he said he'd be delighted to do so. She simply needed to ask! He too is just waiting for us to ask and He is delighted to give to us what we need!

NOTES:

Posted by at