The Daughers of Zelophead

Qualities of The daughters of Zelophead

1.       Courage: They were bold and courageous

2.       King Moving: They got Moses to intercede on their behalf

3.       Loyalty: They were willing to keep their fathers name from extinction. They could have gotten married and 4gotten their dad

4.       Sacrificial: They were willing to be limited to marrying from their tribe in order to preserve their lineage

5.       Law Making: Because of them, God made a law       

1.  Courage: They were bold and courageous

Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

Numbers 27:1-4

The daughters of Zelophead found themselves in a very difficult position. Moses was sharing the inheritance among the families and tribes of Israel and their family was also entitled to their share. Because it was during the times when women were not allowed to speak out and take a stand, they realized that they stood the risk of being relegated to the background. With no father, brother to speak for them, they decided to be courageous. They stood in front of Moses and other princes and elders to make their case known.

2.  King Moving: They got Moses to intercede on their behalf

And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

Numbers 27:5

Because of their courage and good reason, they got Moses to intercede on their behalf. Moses was a very busy man and by this time, he had delegated a lot of his responsibilities to other leaders, following his Father-in-Law’s advice. He was the overall leader and an equivalent of a king in those days. The daughters of Zelophehad were able to get the ‘king’ to intercede on their behalf because of their courage.

3.    Loyalty: They were willing to keep their fathers name from extinction. They could have gotten married and 4gotten their dad

They asked ‘Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son?’. They realized that they were the only ones that could preserve their father’s lineage, even if they were not men. They could have decided to get married and forget about their Father’s inheritance. After all, they won’t be bearing their father’s name forever. But they decided to stay back, fight for their dead father before getting married.

4.    Sacrificial: They were willing to be limited to marrying from their tribe in order to preserve their lineage

They were willing to sacrifice the choice of whom they could marry just to preserve their father’s inheritance forever. It did not matter to them if they like someone from other tribes, they were from the tribe of Manasseh and they will marry within that tribe if that is what it took for them to preserve their father’s inheritance.

5.    Law Making: Because of them, God made a law

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 27: 6-11

Finally, they were able to move God, the King of kings to establish a new set of laws. Their faith was able to move mountains. They accompanied their faith with works and God moved on their behalf.

There are times when we will find ourselves in difficult positions that the only way we can get put of it is doing something that has never been done before. People will talk and say, ‘that is not how it is done in our culture, no one will take you serious, it has never worked’ etc, but we will still need to find the courage to stand out in those times. If we dare to stand out in such situations, influential people will stand for us when they see reason. Also God will eventually move on our behalf and not allow us to be relegated to the background, even if it means making new rules just for us.

Sometimes, the solution might take enormous sacrifice on our path, but if we believe in what we are standing up for, it will not be a big deal. Let us learn from the daughters of Zelophead and choose to stand up for what we believe in and what is rightfully ours.


(c) ilola

The Adulterous woman Luke 7:37-38

I don't know her name, the bible doesn't say

i may not have lived in her time but when I read about her I imagine a beautiful woman with long flowing hair or not but beautiful all the same, loved by men or scorned as they discover her intelligence and whatnots (She has too many qualities good ones, a woman shouldn’t have; society expects an airhead most times with all the stereotypes,  cook and take care of the kids and your job's done). many times, this kind of woman (a beautiful woman) is hated by other women (They secretly want to be ‘her’ i think) but in spite of all the perceived advantages, she laid it all down and depended on the plan, purpose and the power of the master who was the one divinely orchestrating her life. He ruled in the affairs of men then, he still does today.

(The woman of today has these same bottlenecks. Don’t get me wrong, she  is no feminist, she has too role models to be perceived as a feminist. Esther was certainly no feminist but she was not an airhead either. Deborah was a judge, she had courage, much more than the king could muster. Bathsheba must have been made of sterner stuff for her son to be crowned king at a time when the king’s cousins had all sorts of schemes that could help them steal the throne from Solomon. These women stand out as woman who had faith more than intelligence. They had the hand of God upon them, they were more than a man!)

She was a woman who walked erect with her head held up not because she was perfect but because of her understanding of the worth placed on her by the most high. The one who made the major decisions in spite of the schemes of man. I admire her courage; she withstood male criticism and disapproval but would not bow. 


I might have shook in my shoes before entering a house full of some of the most powerful men in the world. She had spent a year’s wages buying perfume to anoint Jesus and a few smirks here or even outright insults could not stop her from accomplishing purpose. She understood the meaning of purpose, it transcended emotions to what was important, it transcended her abilities, her whims or agendas to what God wanted. You bet she did more than cooking or caring for kids, God trusted her to do more, have more, be more!

Personal: From time to time, I get people who lift their noses up at me, they talk about me in a manner that cannot be described as ‘love’ and they are generally un-Christ like but it does nothing to daunt me or slow me down. I am encouraged that I am not the first and that human nature hasn’t changed much but I thank God because I have the nature of God and that I am able to do right.

Mary Magdalene: She had seven devils cast out of her and yet Jesus counted her worthy to follow Him. She followed Jesus every step of the way as he carried the cross and journeyed to Calvary. She was faithful, loyal and honorable. She would not desert him even when she already knew he was going to die at the cross, Jesus had said it so many times, it was difficult for her not to know that He spoke the truth.

She inspires me because this means I can carry my cross every day and follow Jesus in spite of what anyone is saying and how they are judging. Someone once told me that when you judge other people, all you are doing is challenging the blood of Jesus Christ and doubting if it is really able to cleanse and wash and make clean and the sad thing is that I forgot, I am glad I remember now and I don’t want to ever forget that I was saved by grace and not works.

Mary Magdalene: She was the first to see Jesus rise from the dead and she was the first to inform all the other disciples that Jesus had risen and she was a trusted follower of Jesus. 

Personal: I can follow Jesus today and know that it may not matter to anyone else because after all it is just business as usual but it matters to Jesus. I know we say we know he lives but we act as if he is dead. I know he lives and I pray I act like he lives every day. That is when I am actually conscious of His redemptive life in me.

The adulterous woman: Don’t think I will forget that she was caught in adultery! The Pharisees and teachers of the law caught her alright but it was no coincidence but something carefully crafted by the human mind. Man will never believe that depending on your own mind is a promise to fail because God and man are not the same. The Pharisees thought that would be the day they would take Jesus down. The day they would trap him into opposing a Jewish law and that they would kill two birds with one stone or rather many stones. It was not to be because Jesus had an answer, he knew what was on their minds. She was caught unawares. She could have died that day but instead she met the man Jesus and the course of her destiny was changed forever. Instead of satisfying their craving, he had the perfect answer: ‘If you are without sin, cast the first stone…’

I am glad God did not demand that she repent for the rest of her life, she was allowed to walk free and worship freely and was given 100% inheritance like every other believer, nothing missing. I was sick of hearing about the virtuous women like there were no female heroes in the bible till I stumbled on her, I am glad I did. I have learnt so much from her she was a woman imperfect who still loved God without a bowed head. It encourages me too because too many times in our world today, the schemes of men are clear to see, I mean after all, it appears corruption is a way of life but I know God still orchestrates good while men plan, he can work it out for his glory! Humans will always be humans so you have to know the truth anyways so I always respond based on the truth and not trust the arm of flesh. The flesh is the enemy, or rather the devil is the enemy and he works with the flesh of man.


The letter kills but the spirit gives life


This gives me courage...


(c)Tisha Smith

Leah- Unloved of man, Chosen of God.

The story about to be shared is about a young lady, Leah. I hope that this story,will bring you comfort through your hardships, courage to forge on, and the knowledge of God’s love and sovereign grace.

Leah was first introduced in Genesis 29. In this chapter Jacob was fleeing the wrath of his brother Esau. Jacob was guilty for having deceitfully received the blessing that his father intended to give his brother. So in the quest for preserving his life, and seeking a new beginning, he arrives at Haran where his mother’s brother lives. His uncle Laban received him with open arms and Jacob was quick to begin serving Laban diligently. As such, after a month of staying with his uncle, we read in Genesis 29:15-19 that;

“Laban said to him, ‘You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.’ Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, ‘I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.’ “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.”

Seven years passed, but to Jacob, "His love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few years." His uncle threw a big party to celebrate the union, and at night time, his bride was given him. At this point Jacob it is safe to say that this young man was elated! The woman of his dreams after much working and waiting was now his. So he consummated the marriage to the one he thought was Rachel. In the morning following the union however, Jacob found out that His uncle Laban had deceitfully given him the wrong sister! Many negotiations later, his desired wife is given to him within a week and he is forced to serve for another seven years.

That deceit brings a lot of thoughts my way. Firstly, how would the young lady Leah feel? Her own father, gave her away to a man that cared nothing to marry her. Also, that must have created tension between her and her sister. For seven years, her younger sister had ‘dated’ this man, knowing that he was soon to be hers. Then that very time comes and her older sister is the focus. Leah who had no hand in this deceit received the worst treatment- angry, discontent husband, a sister who probably cannot even look her in the eye and friends who cannot believe she would stoop so low!

Through all this she begins to bare children; and the names of her first 4 sons show the state of of her mind and heart. Reuben- “God has looked on my affliction, now my husband will love me”. Simeon- “God heard that I’m unloved and he has given me this son. Levi- My husband will become attached to me because I’ve borne him 3 sons Judah- Let God be praised. One thing is for sure, Leah is a praying woman. In her miserable state, she continues to petition her Lord for children and relief of her suffering. Also it is evident, she is earnestly desiring love, attention and affection from this man who only seems to be a bed-mate. The lowest point in the entire story of Leah is found in Genesis 30:13-16; when she gave of the mandrakes her son had brought for her to her sister, in exchange for a night with their husband. That act showed not only a desperation, but a lack of shame and self-worth. Indeed this story, with primary focus on Leah, showcases God working through the unhappy, lonely and most negative times in her life to still bring to effect his purpose.

What purpose could that be? you ask... Well, this woman is in the lineage of Jesus! She is the mother of Judah(Jacob’s 4th son). Jacob’s 12 sons became the tribes of Israel and Judah is the tribe that King David came from, and also it’s the tribe that the Messiah- the Lion of that tribe himself descended from! So this unloved, neglected, plain-looking woman was loved, pampered and beautiful in God’s sight! Not only that, regardless of how she’s perceived in her world, in His eyes she is priceless.

This is not to say that Leah was perfect! Not at all, she could have being more steadfast in prayer and faith, perhaps been more positive, less jealous, and the list goes on. But through it all, she persevered; something a lot of us lack today. And in the end, we see in Genesis 49:31; she was buried alongside the greats- Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and her shared earth husband Israel. Yes, the imperfect and unloved Leah was chosen of the King to mother the tribe of the Messiah. Just like that, we irrelevant, perhaps overlooked and unappreciated daughters of the king will be empowered by His Spirit to accomplish our purpose on earth. Amen.

(c)Toyin

Naomi: Call me 'Mara'

Naomi: Pleasant, beautiful 

Mara: Bitter (definitely not pleasant)

The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later,  both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

Ruth 1:2-5 (NLT)

Three short verses. Three big changes. I'm always bemused by the story tellers, how they cram our lives into short sentences, short paragraphs, squeezing a life time into a few pages. I doubt if all the journals in the world would be enough for me to pen the pain that came with losing my husband and having to raise two sons on my own. Not only on my own but in a strange land without family support. Who was to teach the sons to be men? To be husbands? To be fathers? But it was ok, life dealt me a terrible hand but I had my boys. Or so I thought. The day we buried Chilion, I didn't cry. All my tears had been spent at Mahlon's funeral. Could it be true that my world had drastically changed in such a short period of time? Were my sons really gone to the land of no return?

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Ruth 1:20-21

Please don't judge me. I had to call it as I saw it. For my life had neither been beautiful or pleasant and at that point in my life all I could see was bitterness. We left for Moab full of dreams, dreams of prosperity, dreams of provision, dreams of seeing our grandchildren and bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And I returned with nothing. But no, not nothing for although at the time I couldn't see it. I came back with Ruth, my daughter and my friend. In her I saw the sermons I had taught about Yahweh, about His provision and His love. I saw her live the messages I had preached about His ability to take you through the changing scenes and seasons of life because He himself was unchanging. 

To you dear woman reading this excerpt, you may have chosen to allow yourself be defined by the curveballs that life has thrown your way. Maybe you haven't verbalised it, maybe you've never told anyone that deep down you call yourself 'Shame' or 'Failure'. And yes, you may have cause to call yourself 'Mara' and turn your back on Him, the One who loves you most. But from someone who has been there and done that I want to encourage. I can because I know. I know what it is to be disillusioned, to be depressed, to ask God why he let you see a new day, to see the house of cards all come tumbling down. 

Listen to me. Hard times are not a sign that God has forgotten about you. He never forgets about you. It takes time to heal from any type of hurt. You're not just going to jump out of bed and be all better. However I need you to focus on the goodness of God to you. Make Him your best friend. Tell Him where and how it hurts. Don't allow life make you bitter. Take it from a widow, He reaches deep down where no husband could. Open your eyes, there's a 'Ruth' somewhere who reminds you of who you used to be. Life isn't about not facing storms. Its about going through them and coming out on the other side. You may never understand why what happened did but don't lose your faith. You also need to do something, you can't stay where you are. I'll repeat that, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING..lol! I had to go back home..to Bethlehem, where the real bread was. Only you knows where your Bethlehem is.

I'm glad no one ever called me Mara, its good to surround yourself with good people. All over the world, people are still talking about me. Calling me a model 'mother-in-law' and all. Thing is I never set out to be this great woman of faith and I'm happy my lowest points were recorded for all to see. Its was never about me, always about Him. If He can use me, He can use you too. 

We'll always have 'Mara' situations and circumstances but always remember you are 'Naomi' despite it all.

Keep winning with God.

Your's truly

Naomi


(C) ZoeBeliever

Jephthah's Daughter

“And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord.He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord the firstthing coming out of my house to greet mewhen I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as burnt offering” 

In just six verses a young unnamed woman is mentioned. Ironically her grandmother was a harlot who brought forth a strong soldier, warrior and leader called Jephthah. Jephthah’s father was Gilead (Gilead in Hebrew means “Hill of Testimony”).

Jephthah had a grueling experience as a child. He was sent out from among his brethren because they believed he was of a strange woman. However, God groomed him and Jephthah built an army of worthless men. Then the leaders of Gilead searched for him to lead them into battle. Jephthah is he who went into battle without recording a loss.

“Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites and the Lord handed them over to him.

In a great defeat Jephthah struck them down from the city of Arooer to the area of Minnith…

So the Ammonites were defeated by the Israelites.” Judges 11: 32

Jephthah conquered the strongest armies of that time and had unbeatable victory.

The Bible does not give us any details of his wife save his only daughter who as a mark of celebration for her Father’s outstanding victory comes out jubilant and playing the “tambourine.  

A brief study on the “timbrel, tabret or tambourine” -as popularly known- traces its roots back to the Bible and was further associated with women of ancient Middle East. The little instrument has a little drum with metal jingles attached to make the rhythmic sounds. The dancer shakes or hits the top with her hand, against the leg or arm.

The timbrels were a symbol of celebration and associated with dancing as in Exodus 15 verse 20; “Then Miriam the Prophet Aaron’s sister took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance.”

It was also an instrument of praise to God; “Praise his name with dancing accompanied by tambourine and harp (Ps.149 verse 3).

This young lady gave her Father a warm Jewish welcome- I imagine how hard she danced to applaud and encourage his brevity- only to be greeted by her Father’s show of brokenness on account of the vow he had made to the Lord in battle. Jephthah tore his garment as a sign of grief and pain because the vow could not be revoked.

I wonder if Jephthah did not think of the implication of the vow he made before making such a rash utterance knowing  he had no others sons or daughters save this young damsel.

The beauty of this whole story is her willingness to let down her life as a sacrifice just like the only begotten son was given as a ransom for our sins though it’s nothing to be compared with Christ.

She knew no man because she was a virgin yet she did not struggle with her Father over satisfying her desire to marry before being sacrificed to the Lord. She only asked to go to the mountains for two months to mourn and bid her friends farewell since she would never marry.

How willing are we to give to the Lord the only most important thing in our lives when he needs it most? That thing maybe YOU or ME as Romans 12 verse 1 speaks that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God for this is our reasonable SACRIFICE.

 I am not sure I would give up an only child or my only car but she forfeited the pleasures and comforts of this life to die in an excruciating manner.  But that affirms the awesome and unquestionable attributes of God. He may have orchestrated Jephthah to give up the thing he held so dear for futuristic purposes (who knows).

Most times God shows us how attached we are to the things of this life. He disciplines our flesh by taking away the very thing we treasure the most (to him they maybe weights not needed for the next level of our lives).God emphasizes that nothing in this life belongs to us, all things are a gift from God and since he is the giver, he can require of them at any given time.

Oh! Thank Jesus for offering his life in our place but he still makes demands on us to give to him one thing we treasure or hold dear. He will not ask for one out of twenty, but the only thing we hold as dear as a sacrifice to Him.

Jephthah recorded more victory after the death of his ONLY daughter.

Salient lesson: One thing God will require from us will cost a great price. 

(c) Enobong