Daughters of Inheritance

If you are like me, you love a good story.

Tales of people making decisions that challenge the status quo fill us with admiration and hope and inspire similar actions in others. Recently, I read a story about five courageous sisters who made me appreciate Jeremiah 29:11 in a new way.

In Numbers 27, a man named Zelophehad died, leaving no male to inherit his property. According to the law, his family line would end, and his five daughters would have no right to the property. The sting of injustice brought the daughters of Zelophehad to the tabernacle. As they stood before Moses, they boldly presented their petition: “Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers” so his name will not die out (Numbers 27:4, NKJV).

In other words, “Our father did not have sons, but we are here. Don’t we count?” When Moses brought their case before the Lord, He honored them in a way that would protect them. God instructed Moses to give them the property and their father’s inheritance as if they were male heirs. But God went further. In this precedent-setting case, God established an innovative law that could be known as the Daughters of Zelophehad Amendment.

If a man died without a son to pass his inheritance on to, his daughter would receive it. If he had no daughter, then the inheritance would pass to his brother and so on to the next male in line. This amendment in the law provided for women who would otherwise face a difficult future. Just as God provided for Zelophehad’s daughters, we can believe God has a future for us. Many Bible promises show that God cares about our welfare.

Is there a circumstance in your life that seems impossible to you? Have you been praying for God to move a mountain? Then remember these five courageous women, and go boldly to the throne of grace, and ask. Dear Father, thank You for reminders of Your love for us. Sometimes we are not brave, we are not courageous, and we lack the faith to ask.

Forgive us for limiting what You want to do for us and through us.

Help us to be bold and become instruments for Your mission.

Amen.

Sherma Webbe Clarke