Sweet Dominion - God's Love at Work - Week of August 28
Sweet Dominion
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of August 28, 2022
Sweet dominion. It sounds like home, sweet home, doesn’t it?
It reminds me of a moment in time when the Israelites’ victory felt like they could settle into their new space without intrusion. Where battles were won and expansion finally felt like establishment. Where the fruit was big and sweet. It was theirs. And the long journey was worth every step, even for future generations.
I believe God is expanding the establishment of His bride in this hour and that we will see it unfold more and more in the days ahead. Also, that the next few years will be pivotal for many in this regard as our Lord brings us into His promises to live them out for His glory, changing lives and even history for families and others whom they will touch.
Like the Israelites, your greatest heart’s desire has likely been your greatest battle. You may have even wrestled with God over it. At times, you may have wondered if it would ever come true for you. But God saw that your heart remained steadfast for Him in what felt like longsuffering. And He has not forgotten you.
Your reward will be better than you expect.
This brings to mind Caleb’s daughter, Achsah, who asked for more than her initial portion of land and received it immediately. Joshua 15:18 AMP says Achsah "[rode up to Caleb and] dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”
Achsah answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the [dry] land of the Negev (South country), give me springs of water, too.” So, he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs" (Joshua 15:19 AMP).
So, when we take a closer look at this conversation, here’s what we find:
The Amplified Classic version of Joshua 15:18 says, "When Achsah came to Othniel, she got his consent to ask her father for a field. Then she returned to Caleb and when she lighted off her donkey, Caleb said, What do you wish?"
Obviously, this was a pivotal moment for Achsah. What’s especially interesting in this verse is the Word "lighted." In Hebrew, “lighted” means “went through” and “descend.” It means “fasten” and “light from off” (Strong’s #6795).
This same Word “lighted” is used in Judges 4:21 in reference to a tent peg that went through a man’s (Sisera’s) temple and was fastened to the ground.
This helps us see Achsah’s story unfolding metaphorically, which is that her mind had to be established in the light and fastened to peace in order for her to release her beast of a burden that she went through to position herself for the outward establishment of righteous increase. In other words, she had to come away from where she had been—the former hardship, the battle (that helped get her to this pivotal moment) and fasten herself to the outward double blessing, for which she asked. Achsah had to come increasingly into the light of what God was highlighting to her to receive what He offered through His beloved Caleb.
Achsah became a beacon of light.
Achsah asked and received.
Her reward was a tangible living-water testimony of Isaiah 43:19 BSB, which says, "Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert."
Achsah, received her land increase as the evidence of her hope, her belief, her faith to be established in God’s provision of restoration—the land of milk and honey.
Achsah would not be shortchanged.
She worked out her salvation and we can, too (Isaiah 12:3)!
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 2:12 AMP by saying, "So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]."
God requires our surrender to His gracious and righteous ways so we can experience an increase of His goodness in the land. We can be transformed to serve the God, who "turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs" (Psalms 107:35).
We can pursue Him and obey Him. We can choose to not look back but look forward and step up to receive our promised inheritance as God helps us. Like Achsah, He is taking us full spectrum as we actively believe in Him (John 7:37-39).
So, “…Lord, do it again (Psalms 126:4)! Turn our captivity, as the streams in the Negev. To You be all the glory, honor and praise.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Amen.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
