Joshua, chapter 15 deals mostly with the division of Canaan that would go to the tribe of Judah. It is a lengthy chapter that has nearly 150 names mentioned. We read of Caleb’s portion in verse 15:13, “And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.” The Lord had given them the land, but they still had to take it. They had to conquer each city to take it for themselves.

Let’s read Joshua 15:16-19, “And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.” Caleb offered his daughter, Achsah, to the one who could conquer Kirjathsepher. Othniel was victorious and Caleb gave him his daughter to wed.

As Achsah came to Othniel, to be his wife, she persuaded him to ask her father for more. Notice how she says in verse 19, “thou hast given me a south land”. This was probably a dowry, which accompanied the new bride to her husband. It was a ‘south land’; one that was subject to be dry and useless to them. There is no mention of a spring on this land. Evidently, Caleb was still with her for she got off her donkey in such a way that he asked her what she wanted. Instead of waiting for Othniel to ask her father for the land, she did it herself. He responded by giving her much more that she asked for. Achsah asked for springs of water and he have her the upper springs AND the lower springs.

What is the lesson for us in this portion? We have the example of a father giving his daughter more than what she asked for. Let’s compare this with what we read in Luke 11:11-13, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” If a natural parent will give his children what they need, how much more will the Heavenly Father give His children good gifts. We read in Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, according to the power that worketh in us.”

We also have the incredible assurance in Matthew 6:8 that, “…your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” In the case of Othniel and Achsah, we can see that they had a legitimate need of springs. I’m sure Caleb must have known that. Yet, he waited until it was asked for before he gave the springs to them. We read in James 4:2, “…ye have not, because ye ask not.” How many blessings are we missing simply because we have not humbled ourselves before the Lord and asked? Through faith in the Lord Jesus, we are the children of God. We have a loving Father who has no end of love and supply for us. In view of that, may we take full advantage of the truth of Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (235.8)