13 DECEMBER

A LITTLE MORE

“And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”  She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.”

And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.”

                             (Joshua 15:18-19)

Caleb was a man of strength and courage, with deep faith in God and His promises. Please indulge my imaginations: At 85 years, Caleb asked for the land God had promised him. He conquered all the cities, with one remaining, and returned to the camp that night to take a rest before marching on to the fortified city of Debir – Kiriath Sepher. The aroma of the stew made by Acsah, his beautiful daughter, filled the air. He would have just dipped his hands straight in to satisfy his hunger but Acsah insisted he should take his bath with the warm water, laced with menthol leaves, to soothe his pains and fatigue.

Caleb thanked God for the gift of his wonderful and hardworking daughter, a true jewel of inestimable value. As he ate, he noticed how Othniel would not take his eyes off Acsah and he caught them more than once smiling at each other. He immediately decided it was time to marry her off to a worthy man. He declared, just as his family and the warriors finished their meal, that he would give his only daughter in marriage to any man who conquered Debir.  Othniel quickly called out that he would go. The next day, the sound of the trumpets of victory sounded in Debir. Caleb fulfilled his promise and gave them a piece of land as dowry. It was a day of great joy.

However, the land was a dry land. Acsah being a woman of faith, great insight and courage knew that they needed a little more – springs of water. As her maidens placed her on the donkey with all her gifts, jewellery, and possessions, to set off to her home, she got off her donkey and bowed in reverence to her father to make a premeditated request. She received a double portion. Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

As Christians we should make our requests boldly but reverently to God, our Father. He is able and willing to give us the upper springs of heavenly blessings and lower springs of earthly blessings. He gives much more than we ask or think.

ACTION: Seek, knock, Ask God for big and for small things.

PRAYER: I come to you, Lord, in holy reverence. Bless me and my household with the blessings of heaven and the abundance of the earth, in Jesus’ name.