Courage to ask

The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife. 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?” 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. Joshua 15: 13-19 NLT

From the text, Caleb was successful in driving out from Kiriath-arba the three giant sons of Anak (later on will be known as Hebron). Caleb then proceeded to attack Kiriath-sepher (Debir), another city previously conquered but reoccupied by Canaanites (see 10:36–39). Othniel led the soldiers that conquered this city. Caleb offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to Othniel. Achsah was very insightful and determined. She knew that land without water was worthless. So she persuaded her husband to allow her to ask her father, Caleb for some nearby springs of water as a wedding present. Pleased with the courage of his daughter, Caleb gave her “the upper and the lower springs” (v. 19). From this story, we see how Othniel and Achsah desired comforts and conveniences for their future family. They showed the importance of mutual advice and on how they jointly agreed that it is not a bad thing to ask for something that could be beneficial for the family. What they will be asking from Caleb was seen to be attainable in a fair and regular way. Since Caleb saw that what her daughter was asking from him was equitable, he consented for it will be advantageous for the new couple. It was part of the culture of Israel to provide inheritance to the sons but it is not unusual as well that the daughters should not be discriminated against such request. Caleb saw the courage of her daughter to ask as well as other women like the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11) thus, the law was changed. All believers are heirs of God (Galatians 3:26-29). God wants to give His children their inheritance and it is important to ask by faith. “Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:2-3). When we have a healthy spiritual dependence on God, we will not pray for things that satisfy self-indulgent pleasures and will drive us away from Him. God gives us the things we need in life (James 1:17).

Blessings,