Numbers 36

“The daughters of Zelophehad did as the Lord commanded Moses. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married cousins on their father’s side. They married men from the clans of the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained within the tribe of their father’s clan. These are the commands and ordinances the Lord commanded the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from the Jordan.” Numbers 36:10-13 (HCSB)

Middle and Far Eastern cultures don’t have the best reputation when it comes to women’s rights. The images of women in the Arab world, broadcast in recent years, have been very demeaning, to say the least.  

Personally, I can understand why men would be interested in Islam. It favors them greatly. But I can’t understand why any woman (who had a choice) would choose the Moslem way if they were aware of the freedom offered to them by Messiah Jesus. Women get nothing out of Islam, even in paradise, their version of heaven.

Similarly, Hindu and Buddhist communities give women a humiliated place in their cultures. In India, baby girls are so devalued that some tribes wrap them in honey-soaked clothing and set them outside to be devoured by insects or wild animals. Abortion of female babies is encouraged in Communist China, where parents of boys receive tax credits unavailable to the families of baby girls.

Of all religions, the Judeo-Christian view of women is the most honoring. Religious rabbis consider the woman sacred partially because they believe every Jewish womb has the potential of birthing the Messiah. Of course, we know Messiah has already come, and His name is Jesus.  

The New Testament also speaks kindly of women. Jesus showed respect, compassion, and friendship to many women. The Scriptures reveal that “many prominent women” followed Him. His apostles, especially Paul, showed a similar consideration to women, which must have been a foreign idea in ancient Middle Eastern culture.

The last thought of the Book of Numbers is the well-being of women. The daughters of Zelophehad came seeking justice, and they received it from the Lord. God is understanding and considerate of even the most remote outcast in society. There is no person, need, or detail too trivial for Him. He is the defender and comforter of the weak, meek & lowly. Rest assured that He is involved in our lives today to ensure the well-being of generations to come, should He tarry. Even so, come quickly, Lord!