Title ~ A look at the marriage of Achsah the daughter of Caleb
“Notes concerning Achsah”
Reading:
Judges 1:12-15 “And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.”
Intro~ In the following outline we see the importance of Fathers to enter into the oversight to make sure their children marry other Godly sons or daughters. In the Bible, this responsibility always seems to reap great dividends. Let us look at how Caleb carefully sought a good spouse for his daughter Achsah.
I. Achsah had the blessing of having a father with faith.
Judges 1:12,20
Caleb set an example that was good to follow. Caleb certainly was concerned for his daughter’s marriage. He wanted his daughter to marry a man with faith as faith was important to Caleb. Fathers need to be responsible for the husbands of their daughters.
It appears from the text that He raised her so that he might give her to the right man. He was concerned she got the right guy. As her father, Caleb had the right that no other man had (to give her away). Caleb wanted someone willing to invest to get the kind of girl Achsah was.
II. Notice Achsah did not come easy. Judges 1:13
Achsah was Caleb’s daughter and you could not get this treasure easy.
As Fathers, we must not give away the treasure of our own daughters to those that invest no life of faith.
Othniel had to be a man of the Word to attempt such a feat as conquering a hard strong- hold of the Devil. “faith cometh by hearing”
Othniel had to be a man of prayer in order to be able to take this land. I am sure he prayed about it. “…took it.”
Othniel was a man with devotion to God and with a vision for the right girl.
Achsah also probably had devotion to God. Othniel was a man of courage. He had to take on a hard place.
We too need courage to give our daughters to men of courage.
*Missionaries to hard places are good investments for daughters. God said in Revelation 3:18, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;”
We live in a day when people deny their children what is most important. 1 Timothy 4:3
It is sin to deny the marriage of a child to one with faith called to serve Christ. See 1 Timothy 5:14
How many parents discourage their daughters from marrying men who are in conquest for souls! Caleb did not discourage this, but rather encouraged this. How about you, Dad?
It takes faith to raise a family, faith to go with the Gospel. See also 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 and Malachi 2:14-15
This idea of giving one’s daughter to marry a man of God is absolutely being refused in our generation. 1 Timothy 4:3 God’s will is not even get considered in what God wants for the relationship.
III. Caleb gave Achsah to the one who was willing to invest the most for her.
Hey, Dad, If the groom to be is not willing to sacrifice for God, do you think he will sacrifice for her. Don’t be so naive.
Othniel was a man who was willing to make an investment to gain a woman of great value.He put his life on the line for her. (c.f. David and Michal in 1 Samuel 18:27)
Notice, before the flood, the world was “…giving in marriage.” Matthew 24:38 they were in an attitude of “eating and drinking” instead of fasting and praying.
In Noah’s day, No one beside Noah and his sons were sacrificing and stepping by faith. They married whoever they pleased with out regard to God’s will. Matthew 24:39, “…and knew not…” This proves they were clueless, prayer less, and faithless, unresponsive to what God wished for them in their marriages.
Othniel was just the opposite. He was a man that that was doing God’s will, and he got a good wife. See also Proverbs 19:14 “…a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
IV. Caleb gave Achsah to a man one who was doing God’s will.
Othniel was not just a talker but also a doer of the will of God.
*Fathers would be wise to marry their daughters to a man who is already doing God’s will, a person who is already in God’s will.
Illustration~ There was a man that received a new hand from a more dainty type fellow as the transplant appeared to be a good blood match for him. After a while, he asked the doctors to remove it. He just could not adjust to carrying around this dead man’s hand attached to his body. It was incompatible to him. This is true when we marry a spiritual person to one that lives after the flesh. If you were looking for a genetic and cosmetic match for an arm or leg to put on in the place of a stub, would you not want as close of one as possible? Well, people choosing their own spouse without faith get an “hand,” “arm,” or “leg” of a spouse that is not compatible because God did not join them together.
Remember Eve was Adam’s spare rib, not a byproduct of a dinosaur.
V. Achsah was one her father could trust to a man whom God wanted to bless.
Because Othniel won Caleb’s daughter, he also won the inheritance of her father.
Fathers would be wise to give their daughters to a man with the blessing of their heavenly father.
With Achsah’s hand came some beautiful land.
See v.13. “…a field…”Othniel could not have inherited without her.
Illustration: Ruth’s hand came to a man blessed of God and Naomi encouraged it that way.
Ruth was a woman of faith, Ruth 1:16 “…thy God my God…”
as was Boaz. Ruth 2:4 “…the LORD be with you…”
Ruth had “…grace…” Ruth 2:10
She was a woman of faith and sacrifice. Ruth 2:11
A woman “…blessed…” Ruth 2:12, 19, 20
Ruth was a woman with a selfless servant’s attitude. Ruth 3:5
She was virtuous. Ruth 2:11
Boaz saw she was a good investment. Ruth 4:8-10 “…purchased…”
VI. Achsah was a girl that needed the help of her father to weld her together with another. Judges 1:12
Caleb arranged the marriage of his daughter
Naomi arranged the meeting between Boaz and Ruth
(c.f. Ruth)
Sometimes couples need a little help in their relationships to seek a spouse for them.(Ruth’s mother-in-law) Ruth 3:1 see also Abraham and Isaac + Rebekah in Genesis 24.
Abraham helped Isaac find God’s perfect will in Rebekah.
Dad, “Sally” may need some help to get God’s best for her, and you may need to help her.
VII .Achsah had the potential to raise a Godly seed. Caleb had a part in this too.
Othniel became a great judge of a great nation and Achsah was there right beside her man. This would have never happened had not Caleb put forth the challenge. See Judges 1:12-15, “And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.”
See also Joshua 15:17 “And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Judges 3:9 “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.”
Judges 3:11 “And the land had rest forty years.”
Out of these kinds of unions great men are born. (c.f. Hathath Othniel’s son)
See 1Ch 4:13-14, “And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.”
See also 1Ch 4:14 “And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.” His sons were successful labourers.
(c.f. Ruth)
God made something of this union. Ruth 4:13-17
David, who was another Godly seed.
See Malachi 2:15 “And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.”
Closing ~ It is time for fathers to fill their God given roles for their children and put forth the challenge. Oh, that God would open up some hearts to this responsibility.
We too must dedicate our children to find dedicated spouses. Let us all find people of faith for our children to marry, and fields of promise for their inheritance.
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