Caleb advertised that he would give his daughter, Aksah, in marriage to any man who attacked and captured Kiriath Sepher.
A man named Othniel, who was the son of Kenaz (Caleb’s younger brother,) took Kiriath Sepher. Othniel’s name means “Lion of El.”
As promised; Caleb gave his daughter to him in marriage.
WELCOME
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Today we are studying Judges, Chapter One. This is only the second lesson from The Book of Judges in an on-going study we post every Thursday.
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WHAT WERE CALEB’S INTENTIONS?
You have to wonder why Caleb would make such an offer. A man’s daughter is always very special to him. Perhaps he was looking for a new leader; one who would be worthy of taking Israel on to the rest of God’s destiny for them as a nation.
Caleb knew that such a leader would have to be smart and brave. Above all else; he needed to be led by The One True God of Israel.
So Caleb found Othniel.
THE TAKING OF KIRIATH SEPHER
Why do you think it was so important to Caleb that Kiriath Sepher be taken next?
This probably had to do with the fact that the area was governed by the ways of man instead of the ways of God. God had commanded the Israelites to remove the pagan people from the land.
All of this time in the conquering of the promised land, Caleb had been quietly leading beside Joshua. He even continued to do so after Joshua’s death.
It must have troubled Caleb greatly to look out and see the corruption in the government of Kiriath Sepher. Something needed to be done. Caleb could not die and leave God’s commandment to purge the land of paganism undone.
The way that God’s ways replaced man’s way at Kiriath Sepher is truly a lesson for our times.
EXHAULTED FIERCENESS OF A LION
Lions are greatly respected by the other animals of the jungle. They are the ones at the very top of the food chain. Lions are known for being fierce in battle. They are greatly feared and respected. Othneil had these lion-like qualities. Caleb recognized them in him.
This city called Kiriath Sepher which was founded upon the wisdom of men was highly fortified. Most thought no one could penetrate that strong fortification. One could only have the strength to overcome it if they were led by God. This one became Othneil. Othneil believed in the sovereignty of Almighty God. This was the secret of his strength.
A SHADOW PICTURE OF JESUS
In Othneil we see a foreshadow of Jesus. Othneil used his power to help his people to overcome in God’s name.
He did all within his power to overcome his own fallen nature and exalt God’s mighty name.
As the first man to never sin, Jesus was the perfection of such traits. He showed us that a physical man could live without sin; but His leadership would come later. He taught us the strong trait of overcoming; which was also Othniel’s strongest trait.
OVERCOMING POWER FROM GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT
This type of overcoming power which was used of such lions of God can never be defeated. God always supplies the strength they need to win in battles with their enemies.
In the modern culture of today we live in another type of Kiriath Sepher. Our cities have been infiltrated and corrupted by men’s ways over God’s ways. It is time for us to be like Othneil and overcome in the Name of God.
ASKING FOR A FIELD
As Othneil was a foreshadow of Jesus in this story; we can also note that Aksah was a foreshadow of Israel. Her name meant “an anklet” or “a bursting of a veil.” This represents a bride that is bound but destined to be freed.
When they were married Aksah asked Othneil to ask her father for a blessing. Caleb had already blessed his daughter with a wedding present; but not his new son-in-law. For reasons we do not know, Othneil stalled in going to Caleb. Perhaps he knew it would take Aksah asking herself for the gift to become possible.
In receiving the blessing that is passed on to a daughter at her marriage Caleb had already blessed Aksah with a gift of the land of the Negev. This was dry, desert land. It was parched and lifeless. The Negev would not be much of a blessing without a water source.
LANDS WITHOUT WATER BECOME LIFELESS
The Negev would be a lot like us being created by God but not having access to The Holy Spirit. The source from which we draw the nourishment we need for eternal life would be missing from the blessings we receive from creation.
Aksah knew her gift was useless without something else that only her Father had the right to give. She had not received it and her new husband refused to ask for her.
So; Aksah went to see her Father to ask for him to give them this most important gift that only he could give to her.
THE BLESSING OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT
When we receive salvation through our Savior Jesus Christ, we become a part of the Church who is The Bride of Christ. The Bride is incomplete unless she receives the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to make her completely alive and eternal for this holy marriage between God and mankind.
Have you asked God to bless you with the gift of His Holy Spirit?
Jesus saves us; but we must pray to the Father to receive the gifts of The Holy Spirit. In the 50 days of the counting of the omer we are reviewing these gifts from God and looking at whether or not they are fully operating in our daily lives.
When and if we see they are lacking and our spirit is dry and parched without them; we go to God and ask for him to bless us with more of this amazing gift that only he can give.
Later we hear that Aksah rode on a donkey to see her father. When she got off her donkey Caleb saw her and asked “What can I do for you?”
She then asked for a very special favor.
SPRINGS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER LANDS
Caleb had already given her the land in the Negev, but now she asked also for springs of water.
She knew she needed a water source in order to prosper and be well in the land where she lives. Her heart told her that her Father would give her what she needed if he was only asked.
So Caleb was happy to give her both the upper and lower springs. This was a great blessing! It supplied her with all the water she would ever need to make her dry land flourish and grow and nourish her family.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US TODAY?
As we live out our lives in the flesh, Jesus has come to save His Bride, the Church, from our sins. Life before Jesus with our sinful selves was comparable to living in a parched and wasted wilderness.
Christ comes and offers the waters of life; God’s Holy Spirit that lives within our spirits and makes us able to overcome the ways of the world. Salvation qualifies us to have God’s Holy Spirit living within our spirits; but we must ask God the Father to send this gift to us.
Because of our Father’s choice of the Lion of Judah, we have been saved. God has rescued us from ourselves, just like Aksah in our story. Jesus has given us the drink of the wine of salvation. By overcoming in the covering of His blood; we have the ability to achieve the righteous freedom that saves us. This freedom comes forth to us whenever God’s Holy Spirit is allowed to flourish within the salvation of God’s people.
This type of freedom living within every heart in the land would change our land. It would multiply out to bless millions. They would come to rest in our lush lands and our full rivers of water.
The living water of God’s Holy Spirit will exist and thrive and flourish if God’s people only remember to go to the Father through the Son and ask for such a blessing.
Let us never forget how to tend to our spiritually troubled lands. First we must be sure to remove the pagan ways from the land. Next we must ask God to send His Holy Spirit to live within our peoples hearts. This is how we will bring living water to our land and bring eternal life to our people. This will make us a thriving and flourishing nation forever.