History Makers

In Numbers 26 the LORD told Moses and Eleazar to record the names of all the warriors by their families. They were to make a list of all the men who were aged 20 and above who were able to go to war. This record is listed there in Numbers 26. Within the Tribe of Manasseh, who were directly descended through Joseph, verse 33 states Zelophehad, had no sons, but listed his daughters names – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.

These five daughters changed history, they changed the law for all future generations. They did not use manipulation or trick or bribe anyone. They stood before Moses, Eleazar, the tribal leaders and the entire community to present their case. (Numbers 27)

Up until this point Hebrew law only gave sons the right to an inheritance. Zelophehad had no sons and so his five daughters took their case to the leaders and community to ask for the inheritance to be passed onto them. Moses brought their case to the LORD and this was his response,

“The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their fathers relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father. And give these instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son then give his inheritance to his daughters ….”

Those daughters changed the law, not just for themselves but for all the people of Israel that would come after.

I’m a thinker, my mind often takes me down a rabbit warren of thoughts, which sometimes link together, sometimes not. The thought that came up was in Luke 11:9 when it says ‘ask and you shall receive.’

Now I know God is sovereign, his Will is going to come to pass regardless. He will find people who will carry out what He asks of them. Yet, here we have history changed, law changed because five daughters sensed injustice and asked for their right to an inheritance. Would this have changed if they hadn’t been bold enough to ask. They could have just accepted the current laws, they may have even thought it was the right thing to do. They didn’t do that. Now I go to thoughts of maybe the Holy Spirit prompted them to do that, because it was God’s plan all along etc. The thoughts are many on how this is all orchestrated. However, human beings have free will, and so, whatever the promptings – if there were any – these woman stood strong. They may well have been feeling anxious, wondering if they would even be heard. In their willingness to stand for what they believed was their right they changed history for everyone that was to follow after.

This led me to another thought. Gods heart towards his daughters is that they have never been less in his eyes.

Throughout history and various cultures at one point or another, females have been seen as inferior to men. There to assist and help. The English meaning of the word helper just doesn’t do the original Hebrew justice. We lose so much in translation, in part, due to our current understanding of what words mean. Looking at Genesis 2 verse 18 God says he will make a helper suitable for man. The Hebrew word for helper suitable used here is ‘ezer kenegdo’. The first time I saw a 5 minute reel on this I knew I had to study it deeper. For anyone who has ever felt less than or inferior. This is such an encouragement to know God’s heart towards you from the very beginning.

Looking at the Hebrew and the roots of the words and translations it becomes crystal clear that this is not a word that describes woman as being inferior to man. In fact when the word ezer is used through the Old Testament it is a word used to describe God himself. It is much more accurate to say that ‘ezer kenegdo’ describes someone who supports, sustains and strengthens someone who is unable to do so for themselves. It is not describing someone who is subordinate or inferior to man but someone who can come alongside him to sustain him and strengthen him in ways he cannot do for himself.

How amazing is it that the first words used to describe women in the bible is a word God uses to describe himself.

How does knowing how God sees you and created you change the view you have of yourself. How are you going to walk differently in life knowing that God has never ever seen you as less than. You have always had a special purpose, one that is there to strengthen those who cannot do that for themselves. It is no mistake that God chose a woman to be the first person to see Jesus when he was raised from the dead. Jesus demonstrated for us how God sees women by the way he treated them and responded to them. Be encouraged today that God sees you, he knows you, he created you, you have never been inferior. Like Esther, you were created and positioned in this time for a purpose. It is up to you to walk it out in life.