Dear Friend,

By leading Israel to victory over Debir, Othniel, who would later become Israel's first judge, won the hand of Caleb's daughter, Achsah (Judges 1:11-15). Thus, he married well. Why?

Not because Achsah was the daughter of a famous national leader. Not because her family was socially prominent. Not because they were materially prosperous by her culture's standards. Not because by marrying her he was in a position, if he so chose, to later claim to be Israel's rightful leader. Not because he would be entitled to have a choice tract of land in or near the city owned by his new, influential father-in-law. Then why?

When Achsah asked her father for a wedding gift, she said, "Give me springs of water" (Judges 1:15). Naturally, this request shows her practical wisdom. Achsah realized water was the key to agricultural abundance, especially in the arid land of the Negev. But spiritually, I believe this hints at something more.

Achsah was a water lover! She was a spring seeker, like Abraham; a well digger, like Isaac; a river woman, like Lydia. She prioritized having fresh, clear, fully oxygenated water for herself and her family, as well as her flocks and fields. This, she knew, was the source of all natural life and prosperity. Thus, Achsah was intent on having a plentiful supply of water. The message here?

Achsah represents a Christian who experiences a pivotal God-moment in which she (or he) realizes how important it is, how absolutely essential to the overcoming life, for us to have the "living water" Jesus so prominently promised us, the flowing, life-giving, every-refreshing Holy Spirit!

Christ, the prime Authority on the Christian life, said this: "If thou knewest the gift of God . . . thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living [flowing] water" (John 4:10). And He added, "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14; see Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:32-33).

Achsah Christians believe this and respond. They soon discover it is vital they receive this spiritual water not just once at new birth. Or a second time in the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Or weekly at church meetings. Or seasonally during conferences and revivals. No, they thirst for more living water all the time! All their days. all their lives. Every morning, every hour, in every trying situation, in every long day, in every dark night, they ask to be "lifed" with the pure, life-giving water of the Spirit - until Jesus appears! Why do they seek ever more of the Holy Spirit?

They realize it is He whom Christ personally appointed to nurture, guide and shape our new life in Him. Christ has sovereignly designed that in this age the Holy Spirit should give us "life . . . more abundantly" (John 10:10). With childlike simplicity, Achsah Christians believe the Spirit Christ sent will give them the life Christ promised, the "more abundant" spiritual life - more of Him, more biblical insight, more sense of His presence, more strength of mind and spirit, more physical vigor, more understanding of things to come, more sensitivity to God's quiet inner voice, more alertness to false teaching, more moral strength when temptation presses, more inclination to worship Christ, more humility to examine themselves, and more promptings to walk in His love. This - not money, property, social prominence, pleasure, or power - is what Achsah Christians seek above all else.

And what they seek, they find! And more! "And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs" (Judges 1:15). Achsah received all the water available, water in the "upper" elevations and water in the "lower" elevations. Viewed spiritually, this represents receiving fresh refillings of the Holy Spirit in both our highest mountaintop experiences and our lowest valleys of testing, a life satiated with the uprushing, fructifying life of the Spirit! Unlike the Ancient Mariner, who lamented, "Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink," Achsah Christians rejoice, "Spiritual water, spiritual water everywhere, and all of it to drink!"

These spiritual implications of Achsah's wise request are calling us to adopt her heart's desires. Let us, then, become spiritual water lovers. Like Abraham, let us seek springs of refreshment in God's presence in private prayer. Like Isaac, let us dig wells of flowing spiritual insights in prayerful studies of God's Word. Like Lydia, let us hold our prayer, praise, and worship meetings by the river of God and drink deeply from Him who is our inexhaustible Source of unconquerable life in this exhausting world!

And may our lives, like the apostle Paul's, become channels of the Spirit's unfailing waters to revive the hearts of people whose spirits are failing of thirst (see Isaiah 41:17-18). May we stay so close to the Source and so full of His Spirit, that His waters of life flow out through our prayers, words, and deeds daily, in "upper" and "lower" seasons of life.

A spiritual water lover,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries