I recently came across an amazing story about 5 single sisters who lost their father and now about to become destitute. They were about to move to a new area and needed land and without their father they had no rights to it. It was during a time when single women were under their fathers care until they got married then care was transferred to the husband. 5 single women, with no father, was not a good place to be at this time in history. They had no voice. They were not seen or heard. But one small detail was in their favor, a census taken before their father’s death grandfathered the family name (not specifically the sisters) into having land rights. Someone might say, “So you say there is a chance!”
Can you imagine their frustration with the system? With the way things were done?
These 5 sisters who lost their dad, their future, their identity, were looking into the future, they were planning for their lives and their livelihood, but they knew it did not look good.
Imagine your current status is not being acknowledged, overlooked and not being cared for. That is what happened to them except they had the courage and gumption to do something. They went to the powers at be, all of them; the Leader, his right hand man and all the people, friends and family to hear their case. They had to present their case publicly!
They said their case in 66 words, equaling 5 sentences. They were not overly verbose. They did not speak for hours. They walked up and presented their case publicly in 5 sentences. Can’t you picture this in your mind? All the emotions, thoughts, nervousness that is taking place in their minds and hearts and to feel confident in only those 66 words?
Their Leader then took their case to God. Yahweh (I AM)
We don’t live under the rule of going to a human to plead our cases. We do not take our struggles to a person. We get to go directly to God. We have the privilege and honor of taking our case directly to God. We have the blessing of a direct line to the all powerful, all knowing and ever present heavenly Father.
I wish God answered me on my petitions as fast as He answered the leader and the 5 single women. It seems their lesson was not in the waiting, their lesson was in being brave and courageous and publicly presenting their case to the authorities.
How does that story end?
Let's turn in the bible (yes this story is in the bible) to Numbers 27: 4-12. We find Moses's coming back after going to God with the sisters insights/questions and he receives a direct answer from God. He says, "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. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"
Those 5 single brave Israelite women noticed the law was too narrow, old and not equal. It affected them personally and because of that the spoke up. Women were now counted as human beings and legally entitled to the same property rights as men among the Israelites. This was ground breaking! This judgement became a law among the twelve tribes of Israel.
Are we courageous women who have the guts to go to God for all things? Do we ask Him for guidance before we start blowing and going on events/laws/causes that we see too narrow, old and not equal?
I love how a famous theologian, JI Packer puts it, “The praising, praying, faithful and thankful person has the marks of a child of God.”
Do those 4 traits, praising, praying, faithful and thankful, “mark” you? I know I want it too all the time but sometimes it does not all apply, I am sad to say. I have to continue to seek God and all His righteousness daily. When I was growing up my mom used to always say the only thing you can change is the person in the mirror. The only person that can change a person’s heart is God.
Let’s continue to be amazing, faithful, praising, prayerful and thankful women of God.
Enjoy
Christy
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