Monday, August 8, 2016

Monday - Numbers 27 - Zelophehad's Girls & Moses' Replacement

The 2 parts of the title are unrelated. Numbers 27:1-11 is most distinctly a separate section from Numbers 27:12-23. The first part of the chapter addresses a specific nuance in the rules concerning the rights of inheritance in the land of Canaan... really it's a continuation of or amendment for the last chapter. Then, the second part of the chapter tells us of Joshua's selection as the new leader in Israel.

Numbers 26:33 mentioned that Zelophehad had no sons; only daughters ... 5 daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These sisters were the first women's liberation crusaders. Well, maybe not women's lib per se, but most definitely they were part of a single women's rights case.  But, they really did what they did for the sake of their father and for the family (Numbers 27:4). And, not surprisingly, God was on their side. When they asked Moses for a piece of land in Canaan, not only did God concur with them, but He also used their situation to lay out a permanent principle in Israel. At the very least, this brief account shows God's heart for individuals... not to mention His appreciation for basic logical justice.

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