What can the five daughters of Zelophehad teach us? (Other than a quite terrific name for a doom metal band.) A lot, as it turns out. The Israelites were about to move into the Promised Land. Guidelines had been established for divvying up the land among the various tribes. But the law said that only males could inherit land. This law prevented Zelophehad’s five unmarried and brotherless daughters from inheriting their dead father’s property. The five women thought this was hugely unfair. So they challenged this law by taking their case to Moses. ‘Our father died in the wilderness…and he had no sons…Give us a possession among our father’s brothers’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). Now, since it was God who gave the law, only He could change it. So Moses took their case to Him, and here’s what He said: ‘The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right…you shall…cause the inheritance…to pass to them’ (v. 7 NKJV). These women took matters into their own hands. They had no men in their lives to speak up on their behalf – no husbands, no brothers, and no sons. Just uncles who wouldn’t do anything, since they were asking for land that would otherwise default to them. Here’s what we learn from this story: When something is unfair and unjust, God may be calling you to challenge and change it. God doesn’t stand for unjust laws that come from tradition overtaking His heart for humanity. So when we challenge them – He’s there with us, too.
What Now?
Is there something out there in the world you feel is unfair? Spend some time today asking God what He wants you to do about it. And be prepared to follow His guidance.
