Week 1 February 2026, Devotion Part 1

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah…as a wife.  Joshua 15:17

Debir was the name of the city that fell to Caleb’s nephew. Known also as Kiriath-sepher, “City of Books,” it was home to the Anakim, a race of giants. The spies sent by Moses ahead of the conquest, reported feeling like “grasshoppers” in comparison. He and Joshua famously opted for an immediate invasion, but became subject also to the 38-year wilderness wanderings as punishment for Israel’s lack of faith. Since God’s faithfulness to His promises always prevails, this captures our rapt attention when 45 years later we hear Caleb say to Joshua, “And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said…Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb…because he followed the LORD God of Israel fully” (Joshua 14:10-14). Centuries later, David was crowned king in Hebron and ruled Israel from there for 7 years and 6 months. No doubt, Caleb took pride in Othniel’s success that launched his career, proving that he was aptly named “Strength of God” or “God’s lion.” 

Enter Achsah into this narrative full of what could be called “give and take,” then marvel how it turns into one of extraordinary ASKING. Othniel did not have to ask for her hand in marriage. The bride was his reward for capturing Debir. Achsah’s name meant “anklet” or “ornament,” but Caleb’s daughter did not come to “adorn” her celebrated husband. As an intelligent woman of bold initiative and shrewd foresight, she became his greatly valued partner. Without hesitation, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. Then she rode a donkey to go see him immediately. Caleb greeted her by asking what she wanted. “Then she said, ‘Give me a blessing, since you have given me the Negev, give me also springs of water.’ So he gave her the upper and the lower springs” (Joshua 15:18-19).  Part 1 of 2

Comment: Negev in Hebrew meant “dry” or “south land.”  Its sparse vegetation fed no hungry humans.  The combined springs would irrigate the desert to become fertile and fruitful. Wisely, Achsah advocated for the family’s long-term prosperity that secured their future.  Jonathan Edwards, undergirded by the intercession of scores of unnamed women, saw God give him New England.  Unlike the young, stylish Achsah, they wore cumbersome skirts,  but would readily unite to have us modern people plead, “God, give us our south land!”  The migrant worker toiling in a field to put food on our table, would prefer sips of spring water without ICE.  Mouthing “holy cow” won’t fix the curdled milk of human kindness.  Will desperation or holy determination drive us to ask God for revival?