We read so much about men in the Bible that it’s refreshing to come across a passage that talks about women – strong, wise women who stood up for themselves. That’s who we find in Numbers 27:1-11 today.

The Daughters of Zelophehad

The second census of Israel counted all of the men aged twenty years and older. They were eligible for military service after they were enrolled in the census. They were also in line to inherit land in Canaan. But the family of Zelophehad was left out of the census because there were no sons in the family, there were five daughters.

Women weren’t included in the census, but God recorded the names of these young women anyway. And they had lovely names: Mahlah (forgiven), Noah (rest), Hoglah (dancing), Milkah (queen), and Tirzah (delight).

They must have had a great relationship with their dad to grow up as bold and confident as they were. Their father was in the generation that sinned against the Lord and died in the wilderness, but it was important to his daughters that people understood he wasn’t part of Korah’s rebellion. They defended his reputation and they cared about lasting justice for him.

Justice for Zelophehad

Zelophehad had no sons, but it seemed to his five daughters that they should be allowed to carry on his name by acquiring property for him. This was unheard of in that culture and time. Women were regarded as the property of men – their fathers, their husbands, or their masters.

Moses had no precedent for their request, but to his credit he didn’t dismiss it, he took it to God.

Seldom did anyone ask God for his thoughts about the status of women in Israel. It must have been startling when God had very definite things to say about these five unmarried women.

“What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them. Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses,’” Numbers 27:7-11

God and Women

At the very end of Numbers the issue of these women inheriting their father’s allotment of land will be addressed again because the tribe of Manasseh didn’t want to lose part of their territory if one of the daughters married into another tribe. But for now it’s enough to know that God was for the rights of these women. When he was asked for his opinion he added their rights into his law.

This story foreshadows the relationship Jesus had with women while he was on earth. He made women equal to men as heirs of the kingdom of God and he encouraged them to sit at his feet and learn from him. He welcomed their financial support as they traveled with him and he blessed them even as he hung on the cross. Later the Holy Spirit used women as leaders in the Church as it was established around the world.

Moses Nears the End of His Life

God told Moses his time was coming to die. He wasn’t going to enter the Promised Land with Israel, but he was going to look into it from the top of a mountain, then he would be gathered to his people as Aaron had been.

Very few people know how they will die, but Moses had a pretty good idea what it would be like. He was with his brother Aaron when he died and God said it would be the same for Moses. I think there is a hint of what Moses expected when he answered God right after hearing this announcement.

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’” Numbers 27:15-17

Moses and Aaron both referred to the Lord as “the God who gives breath to all living things” and I think that God simply took their breath away when he was ready to gather them to their people. So Moses was ready . . . except . . .  he wanted to know who was going to shepherd the people after he was gone.

“So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.” Numbers 27:18

Joshua

Joshua, who was very young when Israel left Egypt, had been at Moses’s side from the beginning of the exodus. He stood at the foot of Mount Sinai when Moses went up to meet God and was there when he came back down. He followed Moses to the Tent of Meeting and lingered there when Moses went back to camp after praying. It was Joshua who led Israel into their first victory over the Amalekites back in Exodus 17:8-16. Now God chose him to become the next leader of the nation.

In front of all of Israel Moses imparted some of his authority to Joshua. Then he presented Joshua and the new high priest Eleazar to the people as the leadership team for the future. Eleazar would inquire of the Lord on behalf of Joshua and then Joshua would lead the people out, following God’s directions.

Restating the Law

Moses had to make sure that everyone understood what God expected of Israel after he was gone so under the Lord’s inspiration, he began to re-state the laws they were given, starting with festivals and holy offerings. Numbers 29 lists all of the festivals God gave Israel.

Apart from the morning and twilight offerings given each day, and the Sabbath each week, there were six kinds of festivals and only one of them was a sad occasion. The Day of Atonement was a serious time of confessing and atoning for Israel’s sins each year, but every other observance was something to look forward to, a time of gathering and feasting together. God loved to celebrate with his people.

The last festival of the year was the Feast of Tabernacles and it was the biggest one of all. It went on for eight days and included scores of offerings and daily feasting. This holiday came after the fall harvest and before the winter plowing and planting began so it was the perfect time to relax and celebrate.

The Fragrance of Christ

It’s interesting that most of the sacrifices were sweet aroma offerings to God. In each list there is an abundance of animal, grain, oil and drink offerings to please God, but only one male goat offered for sins. God was so ready to forgive his people that one goat sufficed for their sins. But he enjoyed receiving many, many fragrant offerings from the Israelites.

Christ is reflected in this abundance of offerings. Jesus’ whole life is a fragrant offering to his Father, from eternity to eternity, but his death was just one moment in time. When the people of Israel came to fellowship with God, their offerings reflected the abundant fragrance of Jesus’ life to the Father, and foreshadowed his one-time death to atone for sin.

All of these festivals and offerings took place alongside the other offerings people brought to the Tabernacle. They still made sin, vow, and fellowship offerings on a regular basis that reflected their individual relationships with God.

The Many Dimensions of God

Are you surprised by how personally and intimately God was involved with the life of Israel? Reading all of the names God recorded, and the personal encounters he had with people, it’s impossible to think of him as distant and detached.

The Old Testament truly reveals the heart of God as he deals with people. It teaches us how high and holy he is, but also how intimately involved he is with everyone he made. We are going to be reading some very dramatic stories in the coming days. Watch for the deep feelings and thoughts God reveals as he leads Israel into the Promised Land.