Confidence

December 13, 2022

Confidence

Read and reflect on Joshua chapter 15.

Verse 16 “and Caleb said, ‘I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” Caleb our older warrior, put out a challenge. I know this seems offensive to ladies today, to see this young girl put up as a prize. But think on some details here. Caleb loved and valued his daughter enough to see that a tough young warrior would earn the right to be her husband. Caleb didn’t want some wimpy son-in-law. He also had parent insight here and would know that his daughter probably did not want matched with a wimp either! The story goes on and gets better. After the battle, Othniel wins the perfect bride, Acsah. Acsah shows her stuff after the marriage and asks her husband, to ask her father, for just a bit more land with some nice springs that would be unbelievably valuable in a hot land. Acsah is the one who approaches her father and does the negotiations. She was a strong woman and matched well with a strong warrior and spoke up when her opportunity arose. Caleb and Othniel obviously respected her to let her speak in a time and culture where that was not usually the case. Her new husband obviously enjoyed her shrewdness, strength, and place in Caleb’s heart to let her negotiate. He just allowed her to do what he didn’t have much interest in doing. Appreciate the different types of strengths and confidence you notice in people this week. Step back and let them do what they do well and thank them for it! A good reminder for us from the writer of Hebrews, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)

Blessings,

Ellen