Numbers 27 Commentary
We have another leadership transition: Moses to Joshua.
Civil leadership followed a different route while the priesthood transferred from father to son. Joshua isn’t Moses’ relative. He even isn’t a Levite!
It’s a picture of salvation. The saint is a priest based on his family status. To be “Born-again” means more than a Pentecostal slogan! You become part of the Jesus family. Consequently, you inherit the priesthood naturally.
At the same time, and from the same side of the coin, the saint must qualify for the kingship like Joshua or David.
Verse 21. Joshua won’t be another Moses. While the LORD God spoke to Moses directly, Joshua needs Eleazar, who “will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD.” It’s a huge shift! One important era has closed!
Zelophehad has no sons. Who inherits his property? His daughters want to know. They shouldn’t lose their father’s inheritance? There is a gap in the regulations. Moses wants to know. He goes to the LORD for guidance. (He has a direct line, unlike Joshua, who must inquire of the LORD through Eleazar.)
The LORD commends the daughters. While the scripture answers many questions, many items are subject to man’s input. In this case, the daughters of Zelophehad have a rare opportunity to interact with the LORD on a matter that is close to their hearts. Consequently, Moses is commanded to revise the regulations.
It is an example of rare courage! Importantly, it is an example of the LORD’s generosity in allowing man (daughters) to direct and shape life’s outcomes.
All this time, the LORD God is making laws. Moses is simply communicating them to the people. Zelophehad’s daughters remind us of the LORD’s intention to cooperate with humanity over man’s destiny. God’s reaction to the daughters’ request is a huge encouragement to individuals who feel that prayer is one way to participate in shaping one’s destiny.
It is also refreshing to see the daughters do what men have lamentably failed to do—ask. Just ask. God hates complaining. Men should not complain. Men must learn to ask. The daughters have a request to make, and God hears them. They simply ask.
The LORD God takes Moses on a trip to see for himself the vast land that the LORD had given to Israel. He was never going to step foot on it! Like Aaron, Moses sinned by dishonoring the LORD in front of the people in the desert of Zin.
The LORD God wants humans to see. Abraham saw. Moses has seen. We can conclude that the 12 men were sent to see and not to spy. Seen from this angle, the term “spy” isn’t a good one.
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