ASK FOR THE BEST
"Then from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir (now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher). And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will even give him my daughter Achsah for a wife."
"And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah for a wife."
"Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" And she said to him, "Give me a blessing, since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."
Judges 1:11-15
Following Joshua’s death, the Israelites continued their conquest of the land of Canaan. Having taken Kirjath-arba (Hebron), Caleb issued a challenge to the men of Judah saying: “the one who attacks Kirjath-sepher and captures it, I will even give him my daughter Achsah for a wife. And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah for a wife.” Joshua 1: 12-13
We can learn an important lesson on prayer from Achsah, Caleb’s beloved daughter. She insisted that Othniel, her new husband, already rewarded by being given Achsah for his wife, should now ask for a field.
So it should be with our prayer life. Ask God for what we think is "the best" but never losing sight that God knows what is best for us. Indeed, we should follow our Lord’s instruction in Matthew 7:7 to "ask, and it will be given to you."
I. Achsah persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a “field”. He was given a field in the northern Negev as his dowry. The area was dry, semi-arid and seemed to offer little prospect in a land otherwise flowing “with milk and honey”.
Today’s parallel:
We sometime think that the Lord has given us a barren field in which to labor for Him. Often the pastures look greener on “the other side of the street”, or the fields look riper for harvest in another city, town or community somewhere else.
II. Achsah was not dismayed with the “field” given Othniel. She knew that Caleb, her father, would grant her any reasonable request. When she got off the donkey she was riding, Caleb asked her: “What wilt thou?”(Literally: “What for yourself”) verse 14 NASB. This was a loving question from an affluent land owner to a beloved daughter.
Today’s parallel;
God is always looking for an opportunity to bless His children. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
III. Achsah’s asked for the best gift she could think of: “Give me a blessing, since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water.” (v. 15 NASB).
She knew that with the availability of water even the desert could blossom like the rose.
Today’s parallel:
God tell us: “But earnestly desire the greater gifts.” I Corinthians 12:31 NASB. Then Paul gives us chapter 13, which concludes: “But now abide faith, hope, love, these there; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 NASB.
Survey what God has given you; determine what further need you have, then ask Him to give you that which will enable you to do what He wants you to do. Our “little” with His blessing can feed the multitudes...or route the Midianites!
