In the midst of a patriarchal ruled people and a male dominated nation, Caleb raised his daughter to speak up.
Caleb was a man with a different spirit.[i] He was one of two men whom God permitted to enter the promised land. why? because Caleb had a different spirit. He trusted and believed God when so many around him doubted. Caleb was surrounded by a generation of men rooted in tradition. His impeccable resolve to follow God fully and his exceptional faith earned him entrance into God’s promise while those around him fell in the wilderness.
Caleb he was a man with exceptional character. no doubt his character and spirit influenced how he treated and saw his daughter Achsah. Caleb gave his daughter a blessing and the land of the Negev while she was unmarried. This was highly unique in this time and generation of people, who were just figuring our what was good and right. There was a hint of honoring women in ancient Israel, a hint of God’s view of females. At one point the famous Moses inquired on behalf of 5 women, the Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27) these “raised before the Israelite community the case of a woman’s right and obligation to inherit property in the absence of a male heir in the family.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_Zelophehad
at that time there was no prescription for daughters or women receiving land or inheritance. Job, another man of excellent character and exceptional righteousness, gave his daughters an inheritance. Could recognizing women be a mark of a righteous character and a different spirit in a man. A different spirit than the spirit that wants to oppress and control women?
Shortly after Achsah was married, she influenced her husband, she returned to her father, she dismounted from her own donkey. Caleb asked what is it that you want for yourself? Acsah wanted a blessing, springs of water, and a certain field. This is the bravery our heavenly Father wants us to have before him, Jesus reminded us of this when he says, “ask for anything and it shall be done for you, according to my fathers will[5], and in case we forget Paul reminds us to ” approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Caleb’s different spirit delighted the Lord and gained favor evidenced by exclusive benefits. He behaved contrary to a sea of disbelieving voices. this man, with his different spirit than gave not one but two inheritances to a woman, rewarding her request and blessing her. In the midst of a patriarchal ruled people and a male dominated nation, Caleb raised his daughter to speak up. Caleb gave Achsah the Negev.
What is so special about the Negev? listen to what the Lord says about this lowland many years later:
… I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. 13 In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah…Jeremiah 33
God includes the Negev, the lowest part of the land given to a woman into his promise. God doesn’t just “include women” in his plans and purposes, he doesn’t just let us tag along quietly learning from our the men, God uses women to get the job done, if you ever doubt that consider the significant role women play consistently throughout scripture!
[1] Judges 1:11
[2] Judges 15:17
[3] Job 42:15 15Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. Numbers 27:1-7 1 the daughters of Zelophehad
[4] Judges 1:14
[5] 1 john 5:4
[i] Numbers 14:24
[ii] Judges 1
my faith place 