Sometimes the hardest thing to do when you are in need is to simply ask for help. Our pride many times can hold us back from seeking the assistance we truly need. If we ask others for help, we might be seen as weak, incapable or lacking in ability. But regardless, what do you do when you need help? There’s something so genuine about when I get asked for help or prayer from someone that genuinely needs it. When that genuine exchange happens, my heart melts.
Asking for help is one thing, but what about out right asking for a blessing? At first thought it seems rather odd to me and probably to you also. I feel that in our world today we see blessings from God as something that passively and even rather secretly just randomly happen to us. Don’t get me wrong, I love those unexpected blessings that just show up at my door, they touch my heart and it allows me to see the face of God in my life. In fact, just 2 weeks ago I Zoomed with a men’s group from California and they surprised me with the huge blessing of a love offering for our upcoming move to Tokyo; it touched my soul deeply. As I encountered that blessing from God, I cried like a three year old with a skint knee. But I’m talking about something completely different. I’m talking about being bold enough to ask someone to bless you. Again, it seems rather forward, rather bold, and maybe at times even aggressive or obnoxious to just simply ask someone to bless you. Read on.
Today in Joshua 15 we encounter what many would once again consider a “skip chapter.” Lots of location names, boundaries, borders, property lines and lists as God clearly lays out each tribe's borders. Today many of these cities no longer exist and the tribes of Israel are scattered (Deut 4:27, James 1:1) so this chapter has limited current context in 2020, only historical. But if you’re careful, you’ll notice a few beautiful little nuggets of gold nestled down amongst the numerous data. One is a great little exchange between Caleb, his daughter and her new husband. And in this, we see a terrific example of boldly asking for a blessing.
Caleb has conquered the giants in the land through the power of God. He also wanted to conquer the city of Kiriath-sepher but instead of doing it himself he made the offer that whoever conquered it would win the hand of his daughter, Achsah. Sounds kinda like the setup for a Disney movie, huh? Well, Othniel, Caleb’s nephew steps up and gets it done so he wins the hand of Achsah. Yes, I realize they were cousins, what can I say, it was a much different time back then. Let’s pick up the story as God tells it.
“And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.” Joshua 15:16-19
Now you have to realize a few things about the land the Israelites inherited. Without water, the plot of land that you got would be almost uninhabitable. Without water, you lack drinking water, water for irrigation, water for bathing, water for cooking, etc. I’ve read that during the Oklahoma land rush that the whole reason the Sooners jumped the gun was to ensure that they could get the plots of land that had easy access to water. So as Caleb generously gives them a dry field from his possession, they realize they need water.
Now it is here in the story where our lesson materializes. The request of Achsah from her father could have went many different ways. Like many overly overindulged (spoiled) kids today, she could have walked right up to her dad and demanded it, taking the line of logic that her dad owes her this. Wrong. She could have sauntered up and tried to sweet talk something out of her dad, using charm, wit and ultimately manipulation to get what she wanted. Wrong again. Although our translated text makes the request seem rather dry, I believe it was very warm and respectful. A young daughter starting her life with her new husband, that is asking her father for a blessing. And notice also how Caleb responds to her request, with a double portion, he gives her both the upper and lower springs. The situation reminds me of a few very relatable passages that model for us the pattern of requesting a blessing.
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:9-13
We are given a beautiful model here of how to view the process of asking for blessings in our lives. This passage specifically involves asking God for the blessing of Salvation and how ready He is to supply it…if we ask. How can a need be filled if the need is unknown? How can a blessing be provided if it stays in secret? How can a broken spirit be mended if it is not crying out for help from God? God is so good to express to us the importance of boldly asking for the blessing. Here’s another passage.
“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:2-3
Not only is it important to be bold in asking for the blessing, but it’s super important the heart you are asking with. Our story above would have been much different if Achsah walked up to her father, complained about the size of the field and then asked for a blessing of a much bigger piece of land. Or if she just didn’t like the location and wanted a different plot that was prettier. You see, it is very important to God that we ask correctly and with the right heart, and not incorrectly with a selfish, greedy, covetous heart.
Today, I encourage you start praying to God earnestly about the needs in your life. God knows your needs, but He desires you to come to Him as your Heavenly Father and voice them. He wants you to sit with Him, be still, and tell Him what you need. Beyond just material provisions, tell Him all your needs, spiritual, physical, emotional and relational. God will hear and He will bless the heart that asks correctly. Also today, be bold in asking others for a blessing. God regularly and frequently chooses to bless us through others, it’s often how He chooses to work. And if God has a blessing for you that He is going to provide through someone else, believe me, He has already talked to them too. It always blesses me when someone asks for my blessing and I was already hearing the exact same thing from the Lord. Don’t underestimate the Lord in His glorious orchestration of providing blessings to us through our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Be bold in asking for a blessing today. And also be ready to freely and quickly offer others a blessing today. It’s in this way, the world will recognize the power of Jesus in your life.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
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