Message Outline 28 May 06

Achsah = "Anklet" a term of endearment



Caleb’s Daughter & Joseph’s SonsBible Texts: Joshua 15:13-19; 17:14-18




SLIDE 1 Background:
The 12 tribes of Israel 以色列的十二支派
Reuben - means "Seeing". Mother: Leah.
 Simeon - means "Hearing" 2nd born of Leah.
 Levi - means "Joined". 3rd born of Leah. This was the priestly line- even then they were not allowed to have any physical blemishes.
 Judah - means "Praise" 4th born of Leah. His was the line that proceeded to the House of David and to Jesus.
 Dan - "God is judge". 1st born of Bilhah. Type of Judas or the anti-christ? Missing from the Rev 144,000. (This was Samson's tribe).
 Naphtali - means "Wrestling" 2nd born of Bilhah. Wrestling was what Jacob did prior to receiving the new name of Israel.
 Gad - means "A troop comes". 1st born of Zilpah (Rachel’s maid).
 Asher - means "Blessed" 2nd born of Zilpah.
 Issachar - means "Wages". 5th born of Leah.
 Zebulun - means "Dwelling with husband" 6th born of Leah.
 Joseph - means "The Lord will add a son". 1st born of Rachel.
 Benjamin - means "Son of the right hand" 2nd born of Rachel. Responsible for dismembering a body into twelve pieces, Judges 19:29. we see Jesus is the REAL son of the right hand.

SLIDE 2 A. “Like Father like Daughter” Joshua 14:6-13
迦勒的信心-“虎父無犬女” ( 約書亞書14:6-13)
 Read Caleb’s declaration of faith & his inheritance.
 Started at 40 with Moses, now at 85, he still has the same fighting spirit.
 He saw the Anakims (giants) but he also knew the Promises of God

SLIDE 3 A1. “A chip off the old block” 迦勒將女兒許配給勇士 (Joshua15:16) Achsah -“Anklet”, Caleb's only daughter was offered in marriage to the man who would lead an attack on the city of Debir
 Othniel, later became one of the judges that have secured 40 yrs of peace for Israel

SLIDE 4 A2. Achsah’s faith 迦勒之女兒押撒-向父求水泉
Imagine a typical scene at the dining table in Caleb’s house…………
 Achsah asked for the right things – water source. Like spiritual things, the land was barren without water source. 信心,爭取心,遠見
 So are we – barren until we have the Holy Spirit.
 She was bold,wise, had initiative and she had foresight.
 She had confidence in her Father’s character and his love.
 She asked for one, but given two!
 She knew her destiny and the promises of God!

SLIDE 5 B. SONS OF JOSEPH Joshua 17:14-18 約瑟的支派兒子也是如此 Ephraim & Manasseh in Joshua 17:14-18 The sons of Joseph asked for more land – not just one lot. 以法 蓮,瑪拿西說:你為甚麼僅將一 鬮一段之地分給我們為業呢？
 But they have to work for it! 神的應許,雖然會有攔阻,得堅持到底
 The promise and the Challenge - go and conquered it, But the enemy have iron chariots!
 Archaeology finds – a more advance culture had been conquered by a more primitive people.
 Examples of Promise and obstacle – eg the patriarchs.
 Abraham – land and descendants – but barren & famine
 So is Isaac – Rebecca is barren, famine in the land.
 Jacob, Rachel, his favourite wife is barren.
 So Trust God, even though the enemy may better weapons!
 God plus our will and holding fast to God’s promises are always stronger than the weapons of the enemy or circumstances.

SLIDE 6 C. Forceful men & women for the Kingdom 天國需要積極和激進的人 “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Matthew 11:12)
 Don’t give up living for God! – in your home, in your work, in your businesses.

SLIDE 7 CONCLUSION :
Press in and Press on!
天國需要激進, 不妥協的人
 Be bold, be wise and be assured of God’s love like the Achsah.
 Be divinely discontented - like the Sons of Joseph.
 Despite obstacles, press in to claim the full promises of God
 Claim what is rightfully yours, especially the spiritual blessing that will last for the future generations.