3Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.
4They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.
- P66
12Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.
13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.
- P67
Prominent in the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh is the account of the daughters of Zelophehad. In Numbers 27, the daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses to request their share of the inheritance since their father died and had no sons. God affirmed their request and promised to give them their father’s inheritance. Now, the five daughters come to claim their rightful share, and Joshua gives the women an inheritance according to God’s command. The daughters are remarkable in their faith and zeal to approach the leaders of Israel for their inheritance. - P68
May we have such passion and trust in our relationship with God that we can ask for blessings and know that He will deliver what He has promised. - P68
In the description of the territory of Manasseh, we find that the lands al-lotted to each tribe are not completely separate from one another. Some ofthe towns of Ephraim are in the land allotted to Manasseh, and Manassehhas towns within the territories of Issachar and Asher. This illustrates thefellowship in Israel in which the tribes share territories and boundaries withone another. However, the tribes also share their land with the Canaanites,
who are determined to stay in the region. As the Israelites grow stronger,
remain among God‘sCanaanites are set to forced labor but are allowed topeople. - P68
Setting the wrong boundaries with sin only leads to destruction.
May we not make the same mistake but persist in eliminating sin andidolatry from our lives.
theW - P68
"True obedience is the refusal to compromise in any regard our relationship with God,
regardless of the consequences."- A. W. Tozer - P68
As I meditate on today‘s passage, I am reminded of the importance of set-ting appropriate boundaries discerning what we should or could accept,
and what we must not. The borders of the Israelite tribes were intertwined,
allowing them to live and work together as the people of God. However,
they failed to draw clear boundaries with the Canaanites as God had com-manded. They settled for what was easier, and in the end, this grave mistakehad severe consequences. - P69
We must constantly ask ourselves:What are we accepting in our lives, and what are we rejecting as contraryto God‘s will? Setting the right boundaries is vital to conform to God‘s willandto live out our purpose. If we neglect this task, we can become like theIsraelites whose mistake led into a sinful path. - P69
Dear God, thank you for reminding me of Your goodness and the danger of compromising with sin. - P69
Fill my heart with passion to trust in You, and correct me in anything that deviates from Your ways. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen. - P69
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