Yesterday, we looked at the story of Caleb in the Old Testament. There is another fascinating story about Caleb found in two separate places in the Bible, both in Joshua 15:13-19 and Judges 1:9-15. In this story we find Caleb at the latter part of his life where he has just received his portion of the Promised Land from Joshua. His daughter, Acsah, has just married one of the mighty warriors of Israel, Othniel – a man of integrity and honor. In this story, Acsah wants Othniel to ask her father for a field. But after they have been given the land, Acsah decides to ask for even more.

Joshua 15:18-19 says, “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.”

In those days, fields and springs would have been incredibly valuable property which would ensure great wealth for whoever owned it. This was a BIG gift she was asking for!

On the surface, it could look like Acsah is simply asking for more land, but the reality is she understood something very important about her father’s nature. Acsah knew that she had a good father who desired to give her good things. She recognized that she was incredibly blessed, but also knew that her father would be happy to bless her with even more.

When it comes to prayer, this is the same posture we should have with God. God is our perfect heavenly Father who desires to give good gifts to His children. We can have a confidence that as we go to Him in prayer, He is not bothered when we ask for more…He is excited about it!

What is amazing about this story is that Caleb not only gave her the field, but gladly provided her with an upper spring and a lower spring! Acsah got a great husband, a field, AND two springs – double what she asked for!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8, “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.”

We can approach God with confidence because we know God loves to provide generously for His people. As we continue to seek God during this fast, let’s pray and ask God for more! Let us realign our perspective about God to realize that He is a good God and He desires to pour out His blessing in abundance.

Scriptures

Joshua 15:13-19 (NLT)

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.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

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. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

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.

James 1:17 (NLT)

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.