Numbers 27

God loves women just as surely as He loves men. He had a plan for the women of Israel whereby they would have a part in the inheritance that He was giving to His chosen people.

Women could not receive circumcision, the sign of initiation in the Old Covenant, yet through their men they were a part of the community of the circumcised. This was reflective of the complexity of the Lord's plan for both men and women. Men would be born of women, but women would find their protection, provision, and even their inheritance through their connection with men.

But what if a family line in Israel ended without any men? What would become of that family's share of the Lord's gift of the land?

This was the problem that the daughters of Zelophehad brought to Moses, and it was significant enough to the Lord that this issue found its way into five chapters in the Bible: Numbers 26, 27, and 36, Joshua 17, and 1 Chronicles 7. This was because the Lord cared deeply about the women of Israel, and even more, because He cared passionately about His provision of an inheritance for all His chosen ones.

The Lord spoke directly to this issue: “If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.” Beyond this specific case, God made provision for the continued passing on of the land from generation to generation despite the fact that the progress of the family line might not be what everyone expected. The tribal lands for Israel would be preserved along family lines.

More generally, the Lord cared about the future of Israel. Moses would not be with them forever. He would take His place in another “land.” Joshua, would lead the people. The continuity of the covenant community would be assured despite the fact that even the most important people in Israel would die.

Joshua would be set apart for his role by the laying on of hands in the sight of the whole congregation. Moses did as the Lord commanded.

In the New Covenant, both men and women can receive the covenant sign of baptism. More important than this is the difference between Moses and Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant. Moses would die. So would Jesus, but Jesus' death would be followed by His astounding resurrection. Moses no longer reigns over us. But Jesus ever lives as the one Mediator between God and man.

Our inheritance and the continuity of all our covenant blessings are perfectly secure. Jesus lives.