HEIRESSES

«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» (Numbers 27:4).

When was the last time you heard a sermon about Zelophehad’s daughters? Although we don’t talk much about them, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah changed the course of Hebrew history. When Moses was dividing the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, these brave and wise women did something amazing: They claimed their inheritance! Zelophehad, their father, had died without having sons or brothers who survived him. Rejecting the conventions and limitations of the time, these visionary women approached Moses to ask for something unheard of: to be allowed to receive their father’s inheritance.

With his characteristic humility, Moses did not decide for himself. He did not say, «This is nonsense; women can’t be heiresses!» He simply asked God and received a categorical answer: «The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them» (Numbers 27:7). Moses then changed the law to benefit not only Zelophehad’s daughters, but all women in similar circumstances. The courage of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah became a blessing for generations to come! However, those five women not only had courage, but also faith. Moses divided the Promised Land before they took possession of it. Although not even one battle had yet been fought, these women believed that God would keep His promises and, by faith, claimed their share of the spoils.

Sometimes we doubt that circumstances can change; we think it’s not worth giving our opinion. Zelophehad’s daughters, immersed in a patriarchal society and greatly influenced by years of slavery, could certainly have thought that way. However, as Silvina Chemen said in her article «The Daughters of Zelophehad,» they had «the acumen to see this omission . . . [in current legislation and] did not hesitate to point out the unfair nature of their situation with complete confidence and to support their assertion with compelling arguments.» The result of their bravery, tact, and faith was a change in the course of history.

Dear Lord, I don’t want to limit what You can do in my life to the expectations of my culture. Please give me the courage and wisdom to raise my voice and to claim the inheritance that is mine in Christ.

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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.