"UPPER AND NETHER SPRINGS" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 6/9/26

“…and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper and the nether springs.” (Joshua 15:18-19)

To even the most avid student of biblical history a continuous list of geographical boundaries can make for rather tedious and wearisome reading, their importance notwithstanding. Therefore, to come upon something like the account of Caleb’s daughter, and her request of her father, it can be quite refreshing and exciting, especially when we begin to see the spiritual truths that are set forth. Clearly, this was “written for our admonition,” (I Cor. 10:11) especially since it was recorded not once, but twice with the same exact details. (Comp. Jud. 1:12-15)

As the divine historian is recording the marking out of Judah’s boundaries by Joshua, suddenly we are treated to this captivating story of Caleb’s daughter. Her hand had recently been won in marriage by Othniel. Caleb, after driving out the Anakims, and claiming Hebron for himself, he was zealous to help his brethren claim their inheritance. At the same time, he desired to see his daughter marry well. It seems that Othniel had caught his eye in the taking of Kirjath-arba. So, combining the two interests, he made a proffer of his daughter Achsah to the brave man who would win her hand by taking Kirjath-sepher. Othniel accepted the challenge, as Caleb most likely expected (and hoped) he would.

Now Achsah and her new husband would make their home in the southland, which she had received as an inheritance from her father. They hoped to turn it into a rich estate, but being in the southland it was hot and dry, needing additional water. Therefore, Achsah requested of her father an additional blessing, which he granted by adding springs of water to that which he had already given to her.

Some might think she was being greedy since she had already received a sizeable inheritance. Apparently, her husband thought so, as appears from the eighteenth verse. She did not think the request unreasonable, and therefore, seeing Othniel’s reluctance, she made the appeal herself. Caleb obviously did not think his daughter’s request unreasonable, for without any hesitation, “he gave her the upper and the neither springs.” It is a father’s honor when his children do well and make the most of their inheritance. It is certainly our heavenly Father’s honor when His children ask for blessings that will make their lives fruitful. (John 15:7, 8)

How does this wonderful story apply to us? Well, consider that it is from God our Father that we have our life and being. “We are the offspring of God.” (Acts 17:28) He has for all His creatures set the bounds of their habitation. Within these set boundaries all have their God-given earthly inheritance. Though all are spiritually barren, yet for some, these habitations are naturally plush and pleasant. For a good many, however, their earthly estates are quite barren. But in either case all who will seek from the heavenly Father a blessing, He can turn a spiritually barren wilderness into a fruitful plain. The heavenly springs will so richly refresh the earthly life that “the thirsty land (shall be) springs of water.” (Isa. 35:7) It is because of the upper springs that the nether springs flow.

It is precisely because we have the promise of the life to come that we can so thoroughly enjoy “the life that now is.” (I Tim. 4:8) Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) This abundance has nothing to do with our earthly situation, but it has entirely to do with the fact that we are “born of the Spirit with life from above,” and we can therefore say with David, “All my springs are in thee.” (Psa. 87:7) “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isa. 58:11) It is from the upper spring that we receive life. Jesus said, “Ye must be born again,” literally born from above. It is from the upper spring that the born-again soul receives the Holy Spirit, and then, he has the nether springs within himself. This then is the source of our fruitfulness in evangelism. Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believeth on me,…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (But this he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on should receive...” (John 7:37-39)

Barren souls may ask of the Father, and He will bless them with springs of water, even the upper and the nether springs.