Joshua 15 Devotional

A Father Who Gives Springs

““Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.”Joshua 15:19 (BSB)

Most of Joshua 15 traces Judah's borders and lists its towns, region by region (15:1-12, 20-62). In the middle sits a small family scene. Caleb drives the sons of Anak out of Hebron, his nephew Othniel captures Debir, and Caleb gives his daughter Acsah to him in marriage (15:13-17). Then Acsah comes to her father with a request. He has given her land in the Negev, and she asks for springs of water as well. Caleb gives her both the upper and the lower springs (15:18-19).

Here is a father glad to give more than he first gave. Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater: if flawed human parents give good gifts to their children, the Father in heaven will be even more generous to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11). The chapter ends honestly, noting that Judah could not drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem (15:63). Yet the God behind these allotments is generous, and you are free to ask him for what you need.

To think about: What need have you hesitated to bring to God, and what would it look like to ask him as a child asks a generous father?