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NUMBERS
CHAPTER 27

1 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. 2 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, 3 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. 4 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. 5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

Five daughters of a man from the tribe of Manasseh came to Moses and said they wouldn't
get a land inheritance under the present plan because only males were counted. And their
father had no sons. Does God not have a plan for EVERYONE? Would God really discriminate?

6 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 7 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. 8 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. 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 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.

Perhapse you can see the reason why God allowed this point to be brought up (verse 8).
These situations are going to come up, and God doesn't want ANYONE slighted. Therefore, he
determines how the inheritance of the land shall be passed down through the generations
NOW - before they come into the land.
1) Father to son - and if no son,
2) Father to daughter - and if no daughter,
3) Father to brother - and if no brother,
4) Father to father's brother(uncle) - and if no uncle,
5) father to next of kin.
Notice in verse 11 that this becomes LAW. In most countries it is still the law today.

12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

What great concern Moses shows here for the people! And what a great honor he returns to God!
When God tells Moses it is time for him to die, Moses is concerned about a "shepherd" for Israel.
And he doesn't ask God to let him choose a shepherd, but he asks GOD to make the
choice.
There is a wonderful example of care here for other leaders! We must be concerned for the
future generation. See 2Timothy 2:2. And we should desire GOD'S choice for the people.

18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

God responds by choosing a leader, and also outlining how the leader should be introduced to the
nation. Moses ordained Joshua, and prayed for him. Thus, Moses "passed on" his honor to the
successor. (see Deuteronomy 34:9)
Moses also "charged" Joshua to obedience to God and correct leadership of the people.
By the way, this is where the U.S. gets the idea of "oath of office."
Joshua is instructed to always go before the High Priest and seek God's guidance.
Now, Moses talked directly to God. But from now on the nation will receive its
direction from God through the spiritual leader.
What a model for proper leadership!

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