Five Women Of Courage, Faith & Hope

FIVE WOMEN OF COURAGE, FAITH AND HOPE

READING OF THE TEXT / Number 27:1-11

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, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said, "Our father died in the desert. 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."

So Moses brought their case before the LORD 6 and the LORD said to him, 7 "What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and turn their father’s inheritance over to them.

"Say to the Israelites, ’If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.’ " (Numbers 27:1-11)

INTRODUCTION

Throughout history, the rights of minorities have been neglected, ignored, and abused. Even in the twentieth century, most nations and communities still do not give equal rights to minorities. Mistreatment of people still takes place, the abuse of different races, nationalities, religions, and positions. The handicapped or physically deformed are seldom given equal rights within any society. Sometimes unequal rights are deliberately fostered by communities and nations; at other times equal rights are deprived out of ignorance—people simply are not aware that a person is not experiencing equal rights. But there is one person who is aware of mistreatment and abuse: God. Concern for the mistreated is the beat of God’s heart. God cares for the helpless and the needy, for the abused and unprotected, for the underprivileged and the people who do not have adequate provision. God cares for every need we have, for the lack of any provision in our lives.

MAJOR POINTS OF THE TEXT

1. The godly heritage & the names of the women (v.1).

2. The courage of the women (v.2).

3. The concern, the great faith, and the hope of the women (v.3-4).

4. The case was taken to the Lord by Moses: a picture of seeking God for help in solving problems (v.5-11).

WHO WERE THESE WOMEN?

Our passage begins with the names of the women. They belonged to the tribe of Manasseh who was one of the two sons of Joseph. Remember: one of the most godly persons in Scripture was Joseph (Genesis 39:1f). His godly and moral character soared to the highest degree imaginable, just as an eagle soars above the clouds of the earth. Because of his godly character, his son Manasseh lived a godly life; and because Manasseh lived a godly life, his grandson Makir lived a godly life. Because Makir lived a godly life, his son Gilead lived a godly life; and because Gilead lived a godly life, his son Hepher lived a godly life. And because Hepher lived a godly life, Zelophehad lived a godly life. As Zelophehad was the father of these five godly daughters, the godly heritage was carried through the entire line of Manasseh, who had a godly father, Joseph himself. This is the first fact to note about these five women of enormous courage, faith, and hope: they had a godly heritage.

The need for a godly heritage cannot be over-emphasized. Parents need to live godly lives before their children. Children need parents...

· who believe and trust the Lord

· who will love them, nurture and nourish them

· who will take care of them and look after them.

· who will teach and instruct them in the ways of the Lord

· who will encourage them and see that they receive an education

· who will discipline and correct them when they are wrong

Parents need to live holy, pure, and righteous lives for the sake of their children, yes. But this is not all. Society desperately needs the example of a godly heritage. The cry of society is for godly parents, parents who will leave a godly heritage to the world. Lawlessness, violence, immorality, abuse, greed—all the evils of society—will be corrected only through the example of godly parents. A godly heritage cannot be over-emphasized.