When the Israelites left Egypt, they were about to go into the promised land. Moses sent out 12 men to scout out the land. 2 of them were faithful to God. They believed God would help them destroy the enemies in the promised land. One was named Joshua and the other was named Caleb. Caleb was known to serve the Lord “Wholeheartedly”. How would you like to be known as someone who served God wholeheartedly? That’s a pretty sweet accolade! Caleb was given an allotment of land for being faithful to God. But in that land he had to first attack a city called “Kiriath Sepher”.
Joshua 15:16-19 (Read King James Version to make blog more entertaining)
And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah 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 Acsah to him in marriage. One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
So to sum that up, Acsah is Caleb’s daughter. She is now married to Othniel. She comes to Othniel and asks him to ask Caleb for more land. Then she is getting off her donkey and her dad asks her what she wants. So she boldly asks her dad for the field and he gives it to her. I read this the other day and the part that stuck out to me is in verse 18.
It says, “When she got off her donkey…”.
I was curious. Why was that in there? Did the writer really need to be that detailed about the fact that she got off her donkey to talk to her dad? Or is there something to learn here? So I began to look at various Bible Commentaries and looked the story up to see if I could find anything.
Multiple commentaries say that Acsah getting off her donkey was a sign of reverence and respect. She took this situation seriously. She could have stayed on the donkey and asked her dad. But something happened when she got off her donkey. As she humbled herself and gave honour to her father, he asked her an awesome question.
“What can I do for you?”.
Have you ever had God ask you that question? Have you ever heard God say to you, “What can I do for you?” This story with Acsah and her father is a beautiful example of our relationship with the Heavenly Father. God is such a good father. In the Bible He is always telling His children to ask Him for things.
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
You see, Acsah was bold when she approached her father. She got off her donkey, humbled herself and gave reverence to him. Her father saw her heart and asked her “What can I do for you?” We are to go to our Heavenly Father the same way.
My first question for you today is “What is your donkey”? What is that thing in your life that you need to humble yourself in?
Maybe you don’t think you are worthy to receive gifts from God?
Get off that donkey.
Maybe you are too proud to ask God for things.
Get off that donkey.
Maybe you are afraid that God won’t answer your prayer.
Get off that donkey.
Maybe you ask God for a lot of things already and so you don’t want to ask Him for more.
Get off that donkey.
Whatever it is that is preventing you from going to your Good, Heavenly Father and asking Him for things, Get off that Donkey!
Humble yourself. Maybe it looks like physically getting down on your knees and asking God for help. Something God was asking me to do recently was to get down on my knees. I would be lying in bed comfortably and praying and asking God for something. Then He would say to me, “Jordan, get off your donkey”. I knew what He meant by that. So I got down on my knees and humbled myself. I first worshiped Him and then I brought my requests to Him. Getting down on our knees doesn’t do anything special. It’s a heart issue. God is not looking at our actions as much as He is looking at our hearts. So if you kneel down, remember that it’s all about where your heart is at.
The second question I have is “What can God do for you?”
If God was going to answer one of your prayers, what would you ask for?
Do you need to get out of debt?
Do you need to be healed?
Do you need food?
Do you need a car or motorcycle?
Do you need a break from work?
Do you need help in school?
Do you need help with sin in your life?
Do you need help with fear?
Do you need help in your marriage?
Maybe God has given you a gift for photography and you need a camera.
Maybe your business is not doing well and you need more customers or business ideas.
In James, it tells us to ask for wisdom. Do you need wisdom?
What ever it is that you are in need of, get off your donkey and go to your Heavenly Father. Ask Him. If our earthly fathers give good give to those who ask, how much more our good, Heavenly Father who loves and cares for His children.
My encouragement to you today is to get off your donkey and ask our Heavenly Father for help.
He is good. And He loves you. Remember that He is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine! Allow God to amaze you. Take the first steps towards Him. He will meet you and blow you away with His goodness and love.
