Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Women as Change Makers
Numbers 27:1-11
Anie John
Long Island MTC, NY
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.”
When we meditate on the word of God, we hardly concentrate on the passage dealing with Zelophehad’s daughters. The daughters of Zelophehad’s mentioned in the book of Numbers are common, ordinary women but the scripture mentions the importance of their influence. We can note from this passage that their faith helps them to accomplish something extraordinary. God's strength in their lives gives them remarkable power and influence, and we can see that the ordinary women becomes extraordinary. The scholars refer to them as “Daring Daughters” or “Heroines of Faith”.
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, from the hands of their oppressors and they were promised Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Little did the Israelites know they had to wander in the wilderness for forty long years before they entered the Promised Land. They wandered for so long due to their sins caused by disobedience. This passage was taking place during the time that Moses was taking the second census of Israelites. The census was ordered by God in order to determine the number of fighting men. The population figures would also help them to divide the land that will come soon into their possession.
When the census was taking place, the five daughters who were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah approached Moses and asked for their inheritance. Each of their name ends in ‘ah’, and according to scholars, “each of these girls name bears the name of God, from the Hebrew form Jehovah.” This shows us that the girls came from parents who gave importance to God. Their father had died in the wilderness and had left no sons. Moses presented the case before the Lord and He saw what the women were asking was right. From this request comes the following law, which was put into place, “ If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter.” (Verse 8)
It can be seen through this passage that ordinary women approached Moses and accomplished something extraordinary. As Christians, when we live in this world, what type of influence does our faith have in our community? Do we use our faith to make changes for the betterment of others? “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise: God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27, 31)
When we meditate on the word of God, we hardly concentrate on the passage dealing with Zelophehad’s daughters. The daughters of Zelophehad’s mentioned in the book of Numbers are common, ordinary women but the scripture mentions the importance of their influence. We can note from this passage that their faith helps them to accomplish something extraordinary. God's strength in their lives gives them remarkable power and influence, and we can see that the ordinary women becomes extraordinary. The scholars refer to them as “Daring Daughters” or “Heroines of Faith”.
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, from the hands of their oppressors and they were promised Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Little did the Israelites know they had to wander in the wilderness for forty long years before they entered the Promised Land. They wandered for so long due to their sins caused by disobedience. This passage was taking place during the time that Moses was taking the second census of Israelites. The census was ordered by God in order to determine the number of fighting men. The population figures would also help them to divide the land that will come soon into their possession.
When the census was taking place, the five daughters who were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah approached Moses and asked for their inheritance. Each of their name ends in ‘ah’, and according to scholars, “each of these girls name bears the name of God, from the Hebrew form Jehovah.” This shows us that the girls came from parents who gave importance to God. Their father had died in the wilderness and had left no sons. Moses presented the case before the Lord and He saw what the women were asking was right. From this request comes the following law, which was put into place, “ If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter.” (Verse 8)
It can be seen through this passage that ordinary women approached Moses and accomplished something extraordinary. As Christians, when we live in this world, what type of influence does our faith have in our community? Do we use our faith to make changes for the betterment of others? “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise: God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27, 31)
Prayer: O
Lord, help us to use the talents that you have bestowed in our lives to do
extraordinary things in the world that we live in. Lord, give us wisdom,
love and mercy so that it may fuel and strengthen us to accomplish something
extraordinary. Amen.
Thought for the day: “The least movement is of
importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.” Dr. Orison Swett Marden