God's Response to Questions [Numbers 36]

6"This is what the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry whom they wish; only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father.'

 7"Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

 8"Every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers.

 9"Thus no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for the tribes of the sons of Israel shall each hold to his own inheritance."


 

God's response to legitimate questions about the daughters' inheritance starkly contrasted with His response to the grumbling and complaining of the people who came out of Egypt. This is the second time Moses questioned God concerning Zelophehad's daughters' inheritance. Both times, the family members went to Moses with their thoughtful questions concerning rules of inheritance in specific cases. Both times, God responded with fair and logical answers. When you compare that with God's response to the grumblers in the desert, you can see how different it was.


In the case of the daughters, the questioners respected and trusted God and His chosen leaders and His system for addressing problems. The grumblers showed no respect for God's leader or trust in God Himself in their grumbling.


I read in Psalms yesterday and wrote in my journal, "God is good." Not only is He good, He is trustworthy and worthy of respect and honor. And He is One who will answer our questions.

God, we praise You because You are good and will answer our legitimate questions as we take them to You and listen to You. Cause us to lay aside our tendency to be focused on ourselves with our complaining and grumbling and cause us to trust You to listen to us and give us the perfect answers. You are good, cause us to believe that even when we are going through painful things. Grow us and make us like Jesus through them.

Beth Warlick, 8/16/2010