Joshua 15:13-18: a reflection

13He gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron). 14Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15He went up against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher. 16Caleb said, “He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 18When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”

When Caleb gives his daughter Achsah in marriage, she boldly asks her father for more than she has received, for a field, and then for springs of water to go with it; and her father grants her request. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, What do you want? And she asked him for springs of water, and he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. Achsah did not hesitate to ask her father for a good gift, for what she needed, and she asked boldly, not for a little but for springs of water in a dry land; and her father, glad to give, granted her request. This is a picture of asking a good father boldly for what we need, and being given. Achsah boldly asked her father, and he gave. She asked her father for a good gift and received it. A good father is glad to give to a child who asks. Ask boldly for what you need; a good father gives.

Notice Achsah's boldness in asking, and her father's readiness to give. She had received a field, but it needed water; so she came to her father and asked, not timidly but boldly, for springs of water. And Caleb, a good father, did not begrudge her the request; he gave her both the upper and lower springs, more than she asked. This pictures something Jesus himself taught about asking God, our Father. If we, being human, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. Achsah's bold asking and Caleb's glad giving encourage us to come to God our Father and ask boldly for what we need, trusting that he is a good Father who is glad to give good gifts to his children. We need not hesitate to ask God for what we need; he is a good Father who gives. Ask God boldly, as Achsah asked her father, for he is glad to give. A good father delights to give to the child who asks. Come to God and ask; he gives good gifts to his children.

That is worth taking to heart, for God our Father is glad to give good gifts to his children who ask him boldly, as Caleb gladly gave Achsah the springs she asked for. We can hesitate to ask God for what we need, unsure he will give, or ask timidly; but Achsah asked her father boldly for springs of water in a dry land, and he gave her more than she asked. God is a good Father who is glad to give. Do not hesitate to ask God for what you need; ask him boldly, as a child asks a good father, trusting he is glad to give. Ask God your Father boldly for what you need, as Achsah, given a field but needing water, boldly asked her father Caleb for springs and he gladly gave her both the upper and lower springs, more than she asked; for we can hesitate to ask God, unsure he will give, or ask timidly, but Jesus taught that if we, being human, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him, so that God is a good Father who delights to give good gifts to his children, and we do well to come to him and ask boldly for what we need, trusting that he is glad to give as Caleb was glad to give his daughter what she asked.

Lord, when Caleb gives his daughter Achsah in marriage, she boldly asks her father for more than she has received, for a field, and then for springs of water to go with it; and her father grants her request. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, What do you want? And she asked him for springs of water, and he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. Achsah did not hesitate to ask her father for a good gift, for what she needed, and she asked boldly, not for a little but for springs of water in a dry land; and her father, glad to give, granted her request. This is a picture of asking a good father boldly for what we need, and being given. Show me Achsah's boldness in asking, and her father's readiness to give. She had received a field, but it needed water; so she came to her father and asked, not timidly but boldly, for springs. And Caleb, a good father, did not begrudge her the request; he gave her more than she asked. This pictures something Jesus himself taught about asking you, our Father. If we, being human, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will you, our Father in heaven, give good things to those who ask you. Achsah's bold asking and Caleb's glad giving encourage me to come to you and ask boldly for what I need, trusting that you are a good Father who is glad to give good gifts to your children. Take that to my heart, for you are a good Father glad to give good gifts to your children who ask you boldly. Keep me from hesitating to ask you for what I need, or asking timidly; help me ask you boldly, Lord, as a child asks a good father, trusting that you are glad to give, as Caleb gladly gave Achsah the springs she asked for and more.