Numbers 27 Devotional

Heard at the Tent Door

““The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.”Numbers 27:7 (BSB)

Five sisters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, come to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and stand before Moses, Eleazar, and the leaders. They ask why their father's name should disappear from his clan because he had no sons (27:1-4). Moses brings their case before the LORD (27:5). God's reply is direct. The daughters are right. They must receive their father's inheritance, and their case becomes a lasting law for Israel (27:7-11).

Then God tells Moses to climb a mountain, see the land, and prepare to die (27:12-13). Moses' response is not about himself. He asks God to appoint a leader so that the LORD's people will not be left like a flock with no one to lead them (27:16-17). God names Joshua (27:18). Jesus later had compassion on crowds because they seemed to have no shepherd (Mark 6:34). In both halves of this chapter, God provides for those who might be left without. You can bring him the need no one else has thought to answer.

To think about: What need in your life, or in the life of someone near you, could you bring before God today?