Give Their Father’s Inheritance to Them

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Give Their Father’s Inheritance to Them

Date: Jun. 2, 2022

Passage

Numbers 27:1-11 (ESV)

1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”

5 Moses brought their case before the LORD. 6 And the LORD said to Moses, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8 And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the LORD commanded Moses.’”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 27:7

“The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them.

The census provided a means to divide the land based on the numbers of fighting men in each clan (26:4,53). But after all those counted at Sinai had died in the wilderness (26:64), one clan was left with no sons and only five daughters. These daughters were God’s hope for the next generation but were in danger of receiving nothing simply because they were female. When they courageously brought their case to Moses and the leaders, they were not overlooked. The LORD sided with the daughters: “You must certainly give them property…” Although the culture and society had no means to provide justice, God himself changed the law and provided for this family. In our day, systems of the world still limit justice for the vulnerable. Jesus teaches us to cry out to God, who will hear and bring justice quickly (Lk 18:7-8). Like these daughters, our inheritance is kept secure by the faithfulness of our God.

On the basis of this unique case, God expanded the laws in Israel in order to maintain each clan’s promised inheritance. The nearest relative had to take possession of the dead man’s inheritance. This may be the rule behind the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz (Ruth 2:20), whose story points to Christ.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for caring for the vulnerable and weak and for providing an inheritance that does not perish, spoil or fade away. Grant us courage to cry out to you for justice.

One Word: One Word: Our inheritance comes from the LORD.

Plagues of Death and Disease

Exodus 9:1-12

Key Verse: 9:7

And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Today's Question

What is sin?

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