By Women in the Bible are very important from Genesis to women in Revelation. From Eve and to Noah’s daughter’s in law up to the four women mentioned in the book of Revelation. They have different roles, tasks and callings but what’s important is how they responded to that call! Are you one of those women who responded extraordinarily to the Lord?
It was the 40th year since the Exodus from Egypt. Before the Jewish people were to enter the promised land , a family census for Israel took place. Moses was informed by Yahweh that the allotment of each tribe’s territory would be determined by a LOTTERY SYSTEM. EVERY MAN IN THE TRIBE WOULD BE GIVEN A PIECE OF LAND WITHIN THEIR TRIBES TERRITORY. When the man passes away his son will inherit his property. This ensures that each plot will stay within the family it was initially assigned to. Zelophehad was one of the men that left Egypt and headed for the promised land under the leadership of Moses. Many of those men died in the wilderness.
Then came the daughters of Zelophehad: Numbers 27:1-11. Who are these women? What’s the need or the call that has a strong demand to do an extraordinary response for them? These women saw the need and their respond is an extraordinary one! We read that Zelophehad had no sons only daughters: MAHLAH, NOAH, HOGLAH, MILCAH AND TIRZAH. Normally, the land inheritance should be passed from a father to his sons in Israel, not to the daughters. Could this law hinder the claim of Zelophehad’s daughters, whose father had no sons? Will their father’s inheritance simply be assumed by someone else, or will his name live on through his inheritance?
“And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.” Numbers 26:33 ASV
They came to Moses for help and Moses sought God for answer:
After Zelophehad passed away in the desert his daughters were concerned that they might not be entitled to a portion of the land. As a result they sought ASK ASSISTANCE from Moses. WHEN THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD WERE GROWING UP, WOMEN DID NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO TAKE OVER THEIR FATHERS POSSESSIONS. So these ladies were in a tough position. They stood before Moses the leaders and all the congregation of the doorway of the tent of meeting tabernacle saying: our father died in the wilderness he was not among those who assembled together against the Lord in the company of Korah but he died for his own sin . He had no sons.
WHY SHOULD THE NAME OF OUR FATHER BE REMOVED FROM HIS FAMILY BECAUSE HE HAD NO SON? Give us a possession, an INHERITANCE! A Land among our father’s brothers. So Moses brought their case before the Lord: Moses did what he should when faced with a new situation: He sought God. The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right in a decent well mannered ways: God seemed pleased that the daughters of Zelophehad brought this issue before Moses. God declared that if a father had no sons, the inheritance then could go to the daughters.
THEIR LEGACY: Significant change in inheritance law
As a result God announced that if a FATHER had NO SONS HIS INHERITANCE WOULD BE PASSED DOWN TO HIS DAUGHTERS. This was a significant change in inheritance law at that time and demonstrated GODS FAIRNESS AND CONSIDERATION FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN. We even read the phrase “give them.” In Hebrew the word is masculine to indicate that women in this situation should enjoy the man’s privilege and that heavenly Canaan whereof this was a type did not belong no less to women than to men. These laws were created with the expectation and belief that land of Canaan would be inherited. This was only an issue for the daughters of Zelophehad because they were women of faith. Who really believed Israel would possess the land of Canaan. Their case helped to clarify the law of inheritance for the people of Israel. Due to the ruling regarding the daughters of Zelophehad women were included in the list of eligible heirs of property. The INHERITANCE ORDER AS FOLLOWS: son, daughter , brother, paternal, uncle and nearest kin within the clan. Their case helped to clarify the law of inheritance for the people of Israel.
“and they said, Jehovah commanded my Lord TO GIVE THE LAND FOR INHERITANCE by lot to the children of Israel: and my Lord was commanded by Jehovah TO GIVE THE INHERITANCE of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.” Numbers 36:2 ASV
These women remain FAITHFUL even Moses died, they continued to hold on to their claims until the leadership of Joshua. They kept showcasing the behavior and attitude of a pious and beautiful women for Joshua to still grant their claims. Another legacy they’ve upon fighting for their caused was they could marry anyone they wanted within their father’s tribal clan. Numbers 36:10-11 “This is the thing which Jehovah doth commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married TO WHOM THEY THINK BEST.”
THE DAUGHTERS ACTION OR RESPONSE: EXTRAORDINARY WITH FAITH, SERVICE AND BEAUTY
RESPONSE: 3 RESPONSIBILITIES YOU WILL HAVE IN THIS CALL: You are called beyond ordinary to take these three responsibilities.
TO GOD: STEADFAST FAITH: Daughters of Zelophehad, as examples of BRAVE WOMEN who CAME FORWARD to accept an INHERITANCE BY FAITH. This was only an issue for the daughters of Zelophehad because they were WOMEN OF FAITH. Who really HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVED ISRAEL WOULD POSSESS THE LAND OF CANAAN.
TO OTHERS: HEARTFELT SERVICE: THE HEARTFELT SERVICE OF THE WARRIOR LIKE WOMEN TO A RIGHTEOUS LEADER. He saw the heartfelt service of these women to their FATHER and MOSES brought their case before the Lord. When confronted with a great challenge Moses responded in as he should have, he sought God. Because MOSES SAW THE EXTRA ORDINARY SERVICE OF THESE WOMEN SO HE brought their case before the Lord. THEIR HEARTFELT SERVICE: A PIOUS SERVICE: WITH DIGNITY, WITH RESPECT, WITH LOYALTY , WITH INTEGRITY
TO YOURSELF: UNIQUE BEAUTY: “The daughters of Zelophehad SPEAK RIGHT: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.” Numbers 27:7 ASV. God was pleased when the daughters of Zelophehad presented their concerns to Moses. God saw their BEAUTY WITHIN.
THEY ACT AND SPEAK RIGHT WITH INTEGRITY. (Num.27:7) God was pleased and saw their beauty within, they were good stewards of their bodies and skills. BEAUTY as a combination of 2 qualities, that pleases anyone: 1. the intellect or moral sense refer to the feelings. 2. the aesthetic senses, refers to especially the sight. MEANING : YOU SAW THE BEAUTY AND YOU FELT IT. The beauty within and outside. You saw externally and felt internally!
In general, the ancient system was not completely unfair to women when God intervened using a godly leader, and having a respectful, pious servants like the daughters of Zelophehad. When heeding to the end times, women still play an important part in each calling. The need to stand up for their faith and make a lasting legacy. From Eve and to Noah’s daughter’s in law up to the four women mentioned in the book of Revelation. They have different roles, tasks and callings. Some were for glorifying God and to help humanity, but some are for destruction of God’s people. What’s important is how they responded to that call and to the need they saw! Are you still struggling with your call? Be ready for the coming battle you are called into. Discern now and stand up for Jesus!
iNSPiRATiONALKiN 