Acsah

Give Me Also Springs of Water

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Two biblical names you may not recognize are Acsah and Othniel. Acsah was the daughter of Caleb, one of the two spies who voted to enter the Promised Land in Numbers 14.

Before Caleb attacked the Canaanites that inhabited the land he’d been allotted, he promised to give Acsah to the one who conquered Kiriath Sepher. Othniel captured it, so Caleb gave him his daughter to marry (Joshua 15:13-17; Judges 1:12-13).

When Caleb assigned portions of his inheritance to his clan, Acsah urged Othniel to ask her father for a field. She even went with him to ask. Caleb gave them land in the Negev, a desert.

When Acsah’s father saw her, he asked, “What can I do for you?” (Judges 1:14-15) She boldly replied, “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” Acsah knew the land would not be worth anything without water. Then Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.  He gave her what she asked and more.

We can learn from Acsah how to approach our heavenly Father. He knows what we need before we ask, but he wants us to come to him in prayer. We should be bold and specific about what we need.

When God gives us a place to live and a place to work, it’s all right to also ask for what we need to nourish it, to cause growth there. Not only will our Father give us what we ask for in this way, but he will also give abundantly (see Ephesians 3:20-21).

God will “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and [work in you] what is pleasing to him” (Hebrews 13:21).

Pray an “Acsah prayer.” Confidently approach your heavenly Father and ask him for all you need.

DIG DEEPER

Read Judges 3:7-11. What else did Othniel do and for how long? What was the result? How do you think Acsah might have been a help to him in this?

Read John 4:13-14. What did Jesus promise to those who drink from the water he gives?

Read Hebrews 4:13-16. Where can we go boldly (KJV) or confidently (NIV) and why? What do we receive? Is this how you pray?

 Nancy J. Baker

This devotion is part of our series, Not-As-Famous Men and Women of the Bible.