Achsah Asks for the Springs Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Achsah asked, and her father gave.”
Caleb was a strong old man who loved the LORD. He had followed the LORD with all his heart. He had a daughter named Achsah. Caleb’s family lived in their new land. Caleb had a city called Hebron. But some of his land was very dry.
There was a town nearby called Debir. Caleb said that the man who won Debir could marry his daughter.
A brave man named Othniel won the town. Othniel was from Caleb’s own family. So Othniel and Achsah got married. Later, God chose Othniel to lead and help all his people.
Caleb gave Achsah land in the South. The South was dry and dusty. There was not much water there. And without water, nothing can grow. Can you lick your lips like you are very thirsty?
Achsah told Othniel to ask her father for a field. Then Achsah rode on her donkey to see Caleb. Clip, clop, clip, clop! Over the dusty land she went. Maybe she thought about the water all the way.
When she came, Achsah got off her donkey. Caleb said, “What do you want?” What do you think Achsah asked for?
“Give me a blessing,” Achsah said. “You have set me in the land of the South. Give me also springs of water.” A blessing is a good gift. Achsah asked, and her father gave.
Springs are places where fresh water bubbles up out of the ground. Bubble, bubble! The water would help plants and trees to grow.
And Caleb said yes! He gave her the upper springs. And he gave her the lower springs. Upper means higher up. Lower means further down. Let’s count them: one, two! Two springs of water for Achsah. Achsah asked, and her father gave.
Now Achsah’s dry land could have water. Grass could grow. Trees could grow. Animals could drink. Splash, splash!
Many, many years later, Jesus talked about asking. He said, “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.” Can you knock on a door with me? Knock, knock, knock!
Then Jesus asked a question. “Who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” A stone instead of bread? No dad would do that!
“Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?” A serpent is a snake. A snake instead of a fish? No, no, no!
Dads and moms give good things to their children. But Jesus said God gives even more. “How much more will your Father give good things to those who ask him!” Achsah asked, and her father gave.
Achsah asked her father. And he gave her water for her dry land. Cool, fresh water, bubbling up out of the ground. God is our Father in heaven. He hears us when we ask. He loves to give good things to his children.
So before you fall asleep, you can talk to him too. Achsah asked, and her father gave.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Achsah felt when her father gave her two springs?
- What good gifts has God given you?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 2 springs of water and Achsah’s 1 donkey.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Ask, and it will be given you.” — Matthew 7:7 (Ask → hold out open hands; it will be given you → hug a gift to your chest)
Dear God, thank you that I can ask you for what I need. Thank you for your good gifts. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: It's Good to Ask
Memory verse: “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.” — Matthew 7:7 · WEB
The Bible story
A brave girl named Achsah rides across the dry hills to her father with one bold, hopeful request — and learns that asking can bring whole springs of blessing.
Talk about it
- Who was Achsah's father? — Caleb
- What kind of heart did Achsah have? — A brave and hopeful heart
- What did Caleb promise to whoever took the town? — Marriage to his daughter Achsah
- What was the name of the town that needed a brave helper? — Debir
- Who bravely took the town of Debir? — Othniel
- What kind of land did Caleb first give the couple? — Dry southern land
Where is Jesus in this story?
Achsah came to her father and asked boldly for springs of water, and Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs (Joshua 15:19). Jesus tells us our Father in heaven is even more generous. He said that if earthly parents know how to give good gifts, “how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).
What God wants to tell us
Achsah teaches us that it is good and brave to ask for what we truly need. She trusted that her father loved her and wanted to give her good things. God is like a loving Father too. He invites us to come close and share our hopes, both big and small. When we ask with a trusting heart, God loves to give us just what we need — and sometimes even more than we ever imagined.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me like a kind and gentle Father. Help me to be brave enough to come to You and ask for what I need. Thank You that You always listen and love to give good gifts. Please fill my heart like cool, fresh springs of water. Amen.
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