Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
And the LORD replied to Moses, “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate.” (Numbers 27:6-7 NLT)
Observation
Today’s passage opens with a startling predicament. Five sisters—not a brother in the batch—approach Moses with a problem. Their father had passed away along with all that generation which failed to trust God back in chapters 13-14, and the existing law made no provision for a man without a son to receive an inheritance in the land of Canaan. Could these sisters receive a claim on behalf of their father (as his son would have) within the borders of the Promised Land?
Moses takes the question to the Lord, and God answers affirmatively. Indeed, in a “ruling” that offered even more than the sisters asked, they not only received property for themselves, but that property was deemed transferable to other family members upon their deaths! Even though there was no *son* to receive the inheritance, the sisters were made qualified to receive the property to be passed down in perpetuity.
In a patriarchal world—a world where every ruling would favor a man over a woman…a world where women were treated as much like property as people…God surprises everybody and basically declares, “Among my people, and in the nation I’m creating, things will be different!” God’s ruling elevates these five sisters to a place women simply didn’t hold in that era.
God’s always pulling something like that, it seems—taking “…the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 NIV). I wonder what surprises He might have in store today?
1 comment:
That is one thing i wonder everyday Pastor. What does God have in store for me today? what surprises will come up. God knows what is gong to happen. Your sermon got to me alot yesterday. I want to be one of those guys that wants to reach out and fullfill what i am put down here on this earth to do. reach out and grab my destiny. the question is for me when will I know if I am there? I am working in a job that I am put in the front line of people that need help but i feel like moving away from this job. Im tired of getting called the names, fighting with drunks and druggies, putting myself in arms way, tired of having to put on a bullet proof vest everyday. then I step back and look and think to myself that Jesus even died for these people that I have to deal with all the time. sometimes I think is the heartache even worth the sacrifice of this job. I am a cop and I used to love to do this job. it has its rewards but I dont know if I am supposed to be here anymore. I guess I got off topic. its just what was laid out for me to say when I read this scripture today. God is amazing and I will continue to look at him for the awnsers.
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