Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Numbers 36
Set – Numbers 36; Mark 11
Go! – Numbers 34-36; Mark 11
Numbers 36
1The heads of the extended families traced back to Joseph through Gilead (son of Machir, son of Manasseh) approached Moses, the community’s leaders, and the heads of Israel’s extended families to share their concerns.Zelophehad’s Family: 2 We appreciate and accept that the Eternal One told Moses, my lord, that among the land given by lot to the Israelites, whatever would have gone to Zelophehad (our kinsman) as an inheritance should be passed down to his daughters. 3 The trouble is, if they marry outside of our tribe into another Israelite tribe, their land will go with them. That will reduce the territory designated to our family and increase the other tribe’s inheritance. 4 And in the great 50th year, the Sabbath of Sabbath years called the Jubilee of the Israelites, whatever land used to be ours through their connection to our family will certainly revert to whichever tribe they married into. In other words, their inheritance will be forever taken away from the territory that belongs to our extended family.
Moses (to all the Israelites): 5 The Eternal has said that these descendants of Joseph are right. 6-9 In light of it, He has determined that Zelophehad’s daughters should marry whomever they think is best, but they should do so within the clan of their extended family so that their land stays in the family. The same goes for any future Israelite daughters in a similar situation. Let them marry whomever they will, but only within the clan of their father’s extended family. There shouldn’t be any permanent transfer of land from one tribe to another because the territories should be fixed as each tribe’s inheritance for all time.
10-11 The daughters of Zelophehad didn’t argue or dissent. They obeyed the command of the Eternal One as articulated by Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah each married one of their cousins 12 from a clan of Manesseh (Joseph’s son). Thus, they and their land stayed within the Manasseh clan.
13 These are the directions and instructions the Eternal One gave through Moses to the Israelites before they entered Canaan, as they stood on the Moabite flatlands next to the Jordan River, east of Jericho.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
The possession of land within the territory I promised Abraham was an important part of the covenant with him. Abraham’s descendants didn’t forget this aspect of the covenant. Nor did they forget the levitical rules about the transfer of property I gave them. Many in the ancient societies downplayed the role of women, but I made them equal to men. This story is a reminder of the importance I place on women in society.
Read about it in Genesis. I made woman, not from the same dust I made My other creations, but from the flesh and bone of man. I took a rib from Adam, not a foot or a jawbone, a rib. I meant for the two of them to remain side by side throughout their lives. Yes, I made woman submissive to man’s final decision in matters of leadership, but not without the careful consideration of the wife’s input. A husband and wife, man and woman, are a team…always. Both are equally important to the success of a healthy home.
Any who feel women hold an inferior place in society need only look at the reaction of Jesus or Peter or Paul toward them. Women were part of their entourage. Women held prominent positions in the early church. Women carried the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Women did things and are remembered for things that others would think belong only in the realm of the male population in those days. But not Jesus. Not Paul. Not the leaders of the new faith in Christ who understood the real position of women in My Kingdom.
The daughters of Zelophehad reminded Moses and Moses reminded the rest of the Israelites what I told him about the important place of women held in the Israelite society. Through the centuries since, men have tried to demote women’s place too often. But this story and others within My word serve as a constant remembrances that I hold a special place in My heart for women as well as men. I made them both.
The next time you think one gender or the other holds a higher place, remember the story of Zelophehad’s daughters. I made special provisions for them because of the role I hold for women in My world. Every person had a mother. Every person owes a woman his or her life. They do indeed hold a special place in the world. Never think of them as lesser or inferior. Nor are they greater than men. I intended them to hold an equal place. Man and woman coming together as one flesh to create a family to share My values, My plans, My purpose for them individually and collectively.
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