Out of Desperate Circumstances
Today I have a story to tell you about five sisters. Their situation was a bit different than my girls.
Their father had died and we don't know anything about their mother. These sisters are alone.And they're alone in a man's world.The nation of Israel stood on the brink of the Jordan River. The Promised Land was so close they could smell it. Soldiers had been numbered by tribe and it was nearly time to go to war.And then God says, "When you win, the land shall be divided by tribe and an inheritance shall be given according to the names of the soldiers."While for most of this nation, this was great news. Victory was secured. Families would receive their inheritance. But, for the sisters, this is bad news. Without a father in the fight, they will have no land. No inheritance. They will be destitute. And they will be vulnerable.But out of their desperate circumstance God advances a divine solution.Like Ruth laying at the feet of Boaz, like Esther approaching the king, the sisters walk toward the tent of meeting, the place where Moses meets with God.They walk until they stand before Moses. With him stands the priest, the chiefs of all the tribes, and in fact the entire congregation is standing. Watching. You could cut the tension with a knife.Courageously, one of the sisters takes a deep breath and speaks.
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 sin 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 27:3-4)
I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop. These people have seen cover Miriam's body with leprosy, open the ground to swallow up families, and send fiery serpents among the people when they presume upon position. What will happen to these sisters?As the crowd holds their breath, and I'm guessing backs away from the girls, Moses turns without a word and enters the tent to speak with God. As Moses prayed, God revealed his solution.
The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.' (Numbers 27:7-8)
Out of their desperate circumstance, God orchestrated a divine solution. And I'm wondering what you hear in this story? How can you relate to the sisters? Doe you need God to orchestrate a divine solution for your desperate circumstance? What about their character and courage speaks to you? What do you learn about leadership? What do you see about God?Please join me over on Facebook and let's start a conversation. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I'll share more of my own. Thanks for joining me this morning!