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Numbers 27:1-11 – Praying through the Bible #54 – A Prayer that is a Legal Case
Social justice, equal rights, judicial fairness, even interpretive hermeneutics along with the place of prayer; all of these are found in a story so real to life, that it just can’t be made up. Although 3000 years ago, we have been there, where the laws don’t match our lives; where not every situation is specifically spelled out; where the scripture needs to be interpreted, applied and adjusted because our situation just doesn’t seem to match. So what do we do then?
Under Mosaical law, the inheritance passed through the males, typical of patriarchal societies. What happens if there are no males left? Zelophehad’s daughters approached Moses with that dilemma (Nm 27.1-11). Their father perished in the wilderness because of his sin (27.3). He had no sons so, “Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan? Since he had no son, give us property among our father’s brothers” (27.4). They are asking, “Why can’t a woman inherit property?”
What is positive about this situation? The honesty, behavior, respect, divine appeal and subjection found in everyone. First, the daughters do not excuse their father’s sin. They admit it. Second, the women do not assume anything and “take what is rightfully theirs.” They work within the system. Third, the ladies stand up for what they consider necessary equal treatment, voicing their concerns. Fourth. The petitioners take the issue to the proper authority (27.2). Fifth, when Moses does not know what to do, he brings “their case before the LORD, and the LORD answered him” (27.5).
Why did Moses bring their case before God? Their specific situation had not been divinely addressed. Divine respect calls for asking God permission to act. Today, we pray, and cannot hear an audible answer. But we can still address the situation by not only going to God in prayer, but by going to God in scripture. This is how we bring “our case before the LORD” and the LORD still answers through His revealed word.
Unstated but implied by the daughters’ thinking is the legal inference that children are not to be legally punished for their parent’s sins. Judicially, the opposite was a common thing among the pagan nations. God’s law prohibits perverting the rights of strangers, orphans, and widows (Ex 22.20-21; 23.9). The divine principle behind the law is mercy. The point is excluding the women from their inheritance would have been legal and moral mistreatment. That is why I believe God said, “What Zelophehad’s daughters say is correct. You are to give them hereditary property among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them” (27.7). Today, we still seek after social justice, equal rights and judicial fairness among one another. Today, we still bring our case before God through prayer and scripture just like 3000 years ago.
Prayer Challenge: Pray we don’t excuse ourselves by saying the Bible doesn’t apply to a certain situation. Look for divine principles behind the law by praying and searching.
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