Relative-ity...

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, "Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sins and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." (Numbers 27:1-4)

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy pointed out that Zelophehad was not part of the rebellion initiated by Korah. Zelophehad's daughters made this confession to Moses in the presence of the assembly: Our father sinned. But, he was not among those men who made a group effort to resist the authority and order that God had set into place... he was not a transgressor like Korah.

It was an important testimony for these women to give, because their appeal might have been interpreted as a group effort to resist the established protocol. As our pastor noted, they were asking for something that had never been permitted before. The women gave their rationale for their request: Moses, our father honored the system and order that the LORD had determined; our father was faithful to God and to your leadership; but he had no sons. Please make a way for our father's name to be remembered.

The reference to Korah is significant. Korah, a Levite, along with Reubenites Dathan and Abiram, had amassed a group of 250 well-respected community leaders to oppose Moses and Aaron's leadership. When the judgement of God fell upon Korah, all of Korah's family and property were swallowed up by the earth. There was nothing left of Korah's legacy. (Read Numbers 16 for the entire account of Korah's rebellion.)

The daughters of Zelophehad made their case in hopes of maintaining their family's legacy. They asked God to distinguish their fate from the fate of Korah's family, on the basis of two things:

• The thing within their father's control (his obedience to leadership and his refusal to align himself with Korah); and
• The thing outside of their father's control (the gender of his children).

We serve a God who hears petitions. Let us bring our cases to Him.

God, there are some things that are within our control, and there are some things that are outside of our control. Lord God, please give us Your grace so that the acts we can control will be acts that please You. And, please give us Your grace so that the things outside of our control will also be taken into account by You. Redeem us. Keep us. Teach us. Hear our prayers. We love You and we seek Your aid today.