Joshua 15

ScriptureJoshua 15:16-17And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.ObservationAs the conquest of Canaan winds down, the disbursement of the lands allotted to the various tribes begins. In a foreshadowing of Judah’s future pre-eminence among the tribes the first lot falls to Judah, the tribe from whence the Messiah will come. Caleb is given the land promised to him beforehand (by the command of the Lord) as a reward for his obedience and valor when spying out the land with Joshua. With some inhabitants still needing to be driven from the land, Caleb offers his daughter in marriage to the man who would attack and capture the city of Kiriath Sepher. Caleb’s brother, Othniel, takes the city and so receives Caleb’s daughter, Aksah, in marriage. Before departing to her new home, Aksah petitions her father to extend the field that he had given her to include a portion that includes springs of water, and Caleb does so. The chapter ends noting that the tribe of Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites from Jerusalem.UnderstandingGod works in the present with the future in mind.

A quick study of the life of Othniel reveals that God would raise him up as a deliverer to lead Israel away from their idolatry and disobedience in intermarrying with the heathen culture. Othniel becomes the first judge of Israel who, in the power of the Spirit of God, wins a 40 year peace for the nation.

While Othniel was simply focusing on being courageous and obedient to the Lord (and unbeknownst to him), God was using the opportunity as a testing ground that would produce in Othniel the character, faith and strength that would be needed to lead Israel in the future.Life ApplicationGod wants to use what I am going through today in order to use me in the future.

What a great lesson for my life! God is never just working in the now and there is always a purpose for the things that God is allowing into my life that is greater than I can perceive.

 

Lord, instead of griping about the difficulties and challenges in my life, help me to understand, remember, and be thankful that in all things, you are at work, desiring to perfect my character, mature my faith and strengthen my resolve so that you might qualify me to serve you, your people and the lost in ever increasing and impactful capacities. Help me to have a sense of your future plans for me even in the present moment.

 

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Gary Parker