The Daughters of Zelophehad - Numbers 27

“One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph. ² These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ³ “Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. ⁴ Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”  ⁵ So Moses brought their case before the Lord. ⁶ And the Lord replied to Moses, ⁷ “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father. ⁸ “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. ⁹ And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ¹¹ But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Thinking this morning about the stand up that The Lord granted us as women and how many so call great shepherds of our congregations can still have issues allowing a woman to have the opportunities that HE said to give us. I’m praying hard!

Back in Moses time, the daughters of a man, five in total, they decided to stand up for themselves after their father died, and go talk to Moses and his crew, about their concern of unfairness treatment they were receiving.  The claim was that after her father had died because he had no boys the inheritance left would be entitled to be given to someone else instead of to them, leaving them outcast, and without land. Since probably this was a first for Moses, the best and right thing to do was ask the Lord, and so he did!  

A few things surprised me including God’s answer:

1.       The women were allowed to stand up for themselves before Moses, and his crew

2.       Also given the opportunity to express their concern

3.       And the opportunity to request a solution for the “problem”

4.       In view of the unknown, Moses chose to pray

5.       God recognizes the validity of the claim

6.       God’s verdict: Law Amendment is necessary

7.       Institution is immediately

Back in that time, the women stay back, the man spoke for them; they had little or no rights, but GOD made the difference! Taking care of the widows and the orphans was part of the church’s responsibilities. Although these women ages are not revealed, it does talk about husband for none of them either, so most likely they were just “orphans”, no matter their age.  But the thing is, a chance to speak was given and they surely took advantage of it; and after all, the Lord ruled on their behalf.

This is a great example for us leader when we get faced with situations that we never had before, especially in ministry because what we do in ministry is spread God’s truth to the world out there.  And because it’s all God’s business what we are dealing with, we want to be not fair before human eyes but righteous at following God’s lead.  

Over, and over, and over, we get testimonies of how when God’s chosen leader when in prayer to seek The Master’s will and how to proceed in determined circumstance, and today this is another testimony about that. So men or woman of God who is reading this right now, when you do not know how to proceed, GO IN PRAYER!!!  God had placed you in your leading position, with a purpose and because HE placed you there to lead, if you lack wisdom, ASK HIM whom anointed you! HE gives it to all liberally and without reproach.[1] I KNOW you believe, because otherwise you wouldn’t follow Him at first, remember that, ask and you will receive!!!

When you seek HIS face, HE will show you the way to go; and His righteousness will be evident thru your actions and judgments; for they will be surprisingly fair, for they aren’t yours but God’s. You will be empowering future leaders to follow Christ, and when they find themselves in another situation maybe similar to the one you’re facing today they’ll remember what you did, and will follow the pattern; God’s established pattern.

Do not fall in the trap of following your veteran’s expertise before you seek God’s face, which will take you to disobedience by following other’s before God.  God always ought to be our first choice for we serve a supernatural God that can supernaturally transform people, situations and things to work for His glory; so no matter your vast experience, when God is in the midst, everything changes, and even the impossible can be possible!

And remember we all are accountable to God, but more as leaders Luke 12:48…

I pray the Lord opens your mind to see that special area where you might be falling short in; for Him to reveal to you what to do. I pray if there’s something so deep in you that you haven’t share with anyone else, that GOD will bring the solution for it; that if there’s someone you need to see placing God’s plan in action, He will bring that person close by, and even ask you to help in some way so you can truly share and experience at first hand the intricacies of the plan. And I pray for the glory of God in JESUS name, AMEN!!! 

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[1] James 1:5