INHERITANCE. Numbers 27 An inheritance, by its very nature, belongs to someone else before it can be passed on. The inheritance of property in the land of Canaan was transferred to the children of Israel by God Himself, who promised the land to Abraham. The promised land of Canaan belongs to God. He was glad to entrust His land to the people of Israel as a place to hold and use. Because it was land “in trust,” it could not be sold. God is its owner. “Speak right” justice was done on behalf of Zelophehad’s daughters by God’s authority. He had the right to do this because "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."
All that God allows us to have and use for ourselves comes from His gracious hand. He has entrusted to us what He knows we can use effectively as "the stewards of the manifold grace of God." The heritage I possess has come from God and is meant to be used to bless God's people. The family I belong to has given me a spiritual heritage that I need to cherish, guard, and pass on to others.
The transfer of ownership or inheritance in Israel was planned in advance to avoid conflict when the owner passed away. This way, possessions could stay within the family designated by God for specific property. In ancient Israel, women did not inherit land. However, from then on, women without brothers were given inheritance rights to their family’s property. God’s truth and justice formed the basis for this rule. The inheritors of a family’s land were to hold it in trust for God and could still use the proceeds for their needs. The land was to remain in the family name, protecting it from outside investors.
The five daughters of Zelophehad wanted the portion of land that would have been given to their father, who had died of natural causes, not because of the rebellion of Korah. They understood why their father had died in the wilderness. Their knowledge of that experience formed the basis for their rightful claim to an inheritance. They knew God's promises and believed what He had said. Due to the position of women in a patriarchal society and because they had no brothers, they aimed to preserve their family name. They also recognized they needed a special act of grace to obtain what would have been their father's property.
We owe everything we are and have to God. His grace provides what we could never earn ourselves. He has generously supplied us with blessings from His storehouse to meet all our needs. It is our responsibility to claim all the spiritual blessings that God has freely given us. Our choices in life should be guided by the Bible and God’s truth as expressed in it. When we are children of God, our life is hidden in Christ. Acting according to Scripture means acting in truth and aligning with God’s will. Any other way may lead to injustice if we base decisions on personal opinions or pressure from others. Such errors can result in discord, jealousy, and hostility.
These five women asked about what God freely gave to those who would enter the land of promise. This all happened before the Israelites moved forward into their inheritance. They were not careless or indifferent because, by faith, they confidently expressed their trust in God to bring them into the promised land and give them their proper reward. The general laws were clearly stated, and then valid exceptions were brought before the council of elders for special consideration. Moses personally handled this for these devout women, and the Lord decided favorably for them.
Faith in God honors Him, and in return, God honors simple faith. Claiming all that God has promised before receiving it is not presumption but a sign of complete trust. Faith grasps all that God has given. It does not give up because of obstacles or problems that seem to block the way. God's rewards come to those whose words and actions of faith are genuine. Faith that trusts in God allows us to love, praise, and serve Him in a way that is acceptable. It confirms that our inheritance in Christ is certain and prompts us to claim it without doubt or shame. There’s no reason to doubt God's grace. We might not understand all that the journey of faith entails or everything divine grace involves. Still, despite our limits, we will trust Him to do what will bring Him the most glory.
Faith brings blessings that we would never experience otherwise. The daughters of Zelophehad did not stay silent or comply with the social rules of their time. They trusted in God's promises and understood what was at stake if they delayed acting on what they believed was rightfully theirs. Being so cautious as to avoid offending anyone can prevent us from doing anything of spiritual significance. There will always be critics, and some people won't act because they fear making a mistake. But when we act in faith, even based on simple promises from God, we must not exalt ourselves nor allow others to exalt us. We must consider the rights and claims of others and protect the integrity of God's people's testimony.
Zelophehad's daughters were likely strong-willed women, which is not inherently wrong. The specifics of their request were clarified later. Respect for others' rights helps prevent us from acting with arrogance or ignoring what they deserve. Faith has its limits. We are only granted what God chooses to give. There should be no greedy claims based on the belief that we deserve special treatment from God. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
The faith of these five women limited them to marry only those from the same tribe in Israel to preserve their inheritance. This ensured that the designated land would stay within the tribe of Manasseh. To maintain a clear scriptural witness, believers should not marry unbelievers, nor should they pursue any religious affiliation solely for marriage. While a Christian might marry another Christian, that doesn’t necessarily mean the yoke is equal. Different opinions on biblical doctrine can greatly impact the testimony of a married couple who are not "in the Lord."
In contrast to God's decision, Moses was excluded from both possession of the land and entering it. No provision was made for him because of the incident when he struck the rock twice. Instead of feeling bitter about God's decree, Moses responded by praying for a suitable successor. He was a true shepherd at heart and understood the importance of having an appointed leader to follow before he died. Passing leadership before the leader's death makes transitioning authority much smoother than waiting until after they pass.
Regarding Moses's inheritance, he was a Levite, and Levites were not included in the physical inheritance of the promised land. Because Moses "spoke unadvisedly with his lips" and struck the rock instead of speaking to it for water, God, in His governance, forbade him from entering Canaan. However, in His grace, God allowed Moses to see the promised land even though he could not enter it. Moses was not upset by this decision from God. His concern was for God's people. He sincerely cared for them and knew a successor was necessary. Moses asked God for the right person to replace him, and that person was chosen. The successor was given public tasks to demonstrate who he was, and then a public announcement was made regarding his authority and abilities.
Confidence in the man who was to be the new leader was expressed when Moses stepped aside and let Joshua lead. Joshua had learned obedience, faith, courage, and meekness from Moses as he served him as his “minister” for forty years. When he took on the responsibility of leadership, it was after years of training, observation, listening, and obeying, during which he proved himself to be a faithful servant of the Lord. Joshua, God’s chosen successor to Moses, was a man “in whom is the spirit.” Not many Old Testament people had the Spirit of God in them. Moses was told to lay his hand on Joshua. Actually, he put both hands on him as if he were blessing him to the fullest extent he could.
The Holy Spirit has dwelled within every believer in the church of God since the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. God communicates with us through the Holy Spirit to lead us “into all truth.” The gentle voice of the Holy Spirit helps us apply Bible truths appropriately to each situation. Whether seeking guidance or fulfilling leadership duties, the Spirit’s guidance makes the leadership of chosen individuals effective and faithful. Because of God’s grace, we often see what lies ahead for those we have led, and they now serve the Lord with the same power and guidance we received. It brings joy to a “shepherd” to see those following him effectively doing God's work from their hearts. When someone is attuned to God’s things, others will trust him, and the “spirit of wisdom” will be upon him to help lead God’s people.
Designated leadership is given to those who do the work and understand what needs to be done. That change in leadership must be publicly acknowledged before the current leader steps down. Those suited for leadership care for the people, can set goals, do the necessary work to achieve them, and respond to their needs. These principles still apply in the succession of leadership.
Under God's guidance, identify the successor. Holy surrender by one to let go and the other to take hold is necessary for the ongoing good of God's people. Unselfishly supporting the new leadership and stepping back shows that an older leader has full confidence in the new team. This helps prevent many potential problems that can arise when the next generation takes on the responsibility of guiding and caring for God's flock.