TO THEM FOR US : THE ACHSAH PRINCIPLE Part 1 ll Charles & Susan Opiyo

Overview

The video argues that Bible stories should be understood as real historical events that also function as divinely inspired “instructions” and transferable principles for modern believers—rather than scripts to replicate literally.

Core Claims and Reasoning

• The Bible is not fiction or folklore. The presenters stress that the people, places, and events described in Scripture are historically real, and that historical research has confirmed that the characters existed—even if later narratives distort them.

• The Bible was “written for you,” not merely “to you.” They emphasize Romans 15:4 (“written for our learning”) and 1 Corinthians 10:11 (“written…for our admonition”) to argue that Scripture is meant to teach and correct believers’ lives today.

• Many believers misread Scripture by trying to copy exact actions or circumstances. This approach is presented as confusing because it treats Scripture like a direct pattern for modern life rather than focusing on what Scripture is meant to produce in the reader.

  • Examples mentioned:
    • Abraham being commanded to leave for a land → readers wrongly ask why God isn’t asking them to do the same.
    • Job’s suffering → readers struggle to apply it without wanting the tragedy.
    • David’s chased life → readers attempt to mirror the situation rather than extract the intended lessons.

• Scripture is framed as a “repository of divine intelligence.” Even though events happened in the past, God embedded wisdom that remains applicable. The video compares this to a shadow/copy: the past event is real, but it points to a larger spiritual reality that can become practical later.

• God is “ancient” (not old): the Bible isn’t a museum. They reject the idea that Scripture exists only to preserve the past for admiration. Instead, Scripture preserves the past so people can learn and apply wisdom in the present.

• What to extract: “patterns” and “principles,” not rituals or environments. The presenters warn against:

  • Becoming numb or ritualistic—reading for information (e.g., “Genesis-to-Revelation scripture overload”) while life doesn’t change.
  • Recreating old religious contexts or seeking outdated conditions. (They give examples such as the talith/prayer cloth used in a specific temple/priest setting and seeking relics like the ark of the covenant.)

They argue it’s better to read with questions like:

“What solution or equivalent expression should emerge in my environment after I read this?”

• A key interpretive method: “Bible interprets Bible.” They argue Scripture should explain Scripture internally, rather than building new narratives from external sources to “prove” points.

They also use the idea that the same text can have different effects for different listeners:

The “aroma of life” versus the “aroma of death,” depending on what a person is protecting or resisting.

Provided Example: Joshua / Achsah

To illustrate “types and shadows” applied practically, the video walks through a passage in Joshua:

• Caleb has territory and offers Achsah (Axah) (and land) connected to conquest/possession.
• Achsah already has land but asks Caleb for “springs of water,” interpreted as a request for additional provision/blessing.
• Broader takeaway: even simple narratives can contain divine wisdom about inheritance, asking correctly, and seeking resources needed to thrive, which believers should extract for present-day application.

Presenters / Contributors

• Charles Opiyo
• Susan Opiyo