GOD IS KEEPING AN INHERITANCE FOR YOU

August 30, 2013

GOD IS KEEPING AN INHERITANCE FOR YOU

Numbers 36

Susan Cox

Central Truth

Just as the Israelites received an inheritance of land that would be passed down from generation to generation, as believers we have received our inheritance through Christ. Our inheritance is far better than land. It is not perishable and will not fade away.

"But if they marry one of the sons of the other tribes of the sons of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the inheritance of our fathers and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong; thus it will be withdrawn from our allotted inheritance." (Numbers 36:3)

Marriage of Female Heirs

1 The heads of the fathers' houses of the clan of the people of Gilead the son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of the people of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the chiefs, the heads of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel. 2 They said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the people of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. 3 But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the people of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.”

5 And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, “The tribe of the people of Joseph is right. 6 This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: ‘Let them marry whom they think best, only they shall marry within the clan of the tribe of their father. 7 The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the people of Israel shall be wife to one of the clan of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9 So no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another, for each of the tribes of the people of Israel shall hold on to its own inheritance.’”

10 The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses, 11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to sons of their father's brothers. 12 They were married into the clans of the people of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's clan.

13 These are the commandments and the rules that the LORD commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Can you picture it? Five single, distressed daughters lined up to claim land that had belonged to their father, Zelophehad. Passing on an inheritance of land in biblical times was very important. Land was precious in that it provided a way for families to make a living. These ladies were bold and courageous in the way they approached their request.

Two things need to happen for an inheritance to be left: 1) someone has to die; and 2) there must be someone to pass it to. I have yet to receive an inheritance from my earthly father, as he is still living. I don't anticipate being called into a large room with family members circled around an attorney's desk while the will of my father is read aloud. We have seen this played out Hollywood style time and time again: The envelope is opened, and the very air in the room is sucked dry as each family member holds his/her breath, hoping to hear their name called and attached to an earthly treasure.

God, our heavenly Father, has an inheritance to pass on to us. Jesus came to earth in human form for the purpose of living a sinless life and dying for us.

We can pass on our inheritance to others by telling them about salvation through Jesus. The best inheritance to leave our children is eternal life through Him. Our job is to teach and lead them so that they, too, can receive the same inheritance, thus passing it down to the next generation. The Apostle Peter described our inheritance: "In [God's] great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3b-4, NIV)

God has given us an eternal treasure to be passed on to the next generation and beyond. Will we be bold in sharing this inheritance with others?

1. Describe the promise God has made to those who are His children.

2. How do you know you will receive your inheritance?

3. Is receiving your eternal inheritance easy? Explain.

4. Consider the value of your inheritance. What changes do you need to make to live worthy of your calling as a son or daughter of God?