1/18/12 GOD’S INHERITANCE IS WORTH IT

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Numbers 36:1-13    Key Verse: 36:9

“No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”

Good morning Lord. I look forward to a new day in you. I look forward to learning new things from you and reveling in your truth and your grace and your mission. I thank you for the high school Christian group, FCA and their desire to meet for the next three mornings in order to pray for their finals. I thank God for Jenn taking leadership in this matter. I pray that you bear much spiritual fruit through that that Christian group. I thank you for granting our ministry a clear year key verse and a prayer topics. I pray that this year may be a totally transforming year for us, a joyful and Full year, experiencing the Full life in Jesus Christ. Please bless the upcoming UBF staff conference to bear much fruit. Grant us unity of heart and mission. Grant us joy and vision.Do great things through our lives. I thank you. Please grant me one word of God in my heart though this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Losing their inheritance (1-9).

Verses 1-9, “The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families.2 They said, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. 4 When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our ancestors.” 5 Then at the LORD’s command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: “What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right. 6 This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan. 7 No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors. 8 Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors. 9 No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”

Zelophehad’s daughters had been given the right to inherit land since their father did not have any sons. But some of the family heads of Manasseh recognized a problem. If these daughters married outside their tribe, the land would go to the tribe of their husband. It would not return to the tribe of Manasseh even in the Year of Jubilee. Moses prayed and the Lord agreed that what the family heads said was right. God commanded that no inheritance was to pass from one tribe to another. In fact, God said it twice (7,9). Zelophehad’s daughters were to curb their right to marry anyone and only marry within their tribal clan.

Nowadays people think that it is their right to marry anyone they choose. They think that they have been endowed with the all the wisdom they need to find that special person whom they can spend the rest of their days with in wedded bliss. If that is the case then why is there so much divorce. Why do I see 60 year old people referring to their boyfriends or girlfriend? Why are there so many Hollywood marriages ending after a few months or a couple of years? Why are there so many people opting out of marriage all together?

The reason is that people think that marriage is for their own personal happiness. But this is not so. Personal happiness is a big issue and part of it, but there will be timed in out marriages, where we are not happy. There will be fights about things, especially about money related issues and freedom related issues. There will be times of week long periods of deep stress. But, by God’s grace these times may be few and far between, but they do happen. We must not give up on our marriage, but realize that God will bring us through and that we are brought together to serve a higher purpose. Julie and I have been married for over 19 years. We have our rough times, but Jesus has always been able to bring us through. We love one another for many reasons, but one of them is because we married to serve Jesus’ purpose, that is to be a Jesus centered house church for campus mission in the UBF setting. I hope we can be a missionary family one day. It is all about Jesus and his purpose and not our own. When we start to get self centered then things become difficult.  It is all about relationship building, building our relationship with Jesus first, then each other second, our kids third and with others whom God has brought into our lives. Relationship building is not easy. It takes time and effort and self denial. It is all for the glory of God and the promotion of Jesus and his gospel and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. May the young people in America discover the true meaning of marriage and the way to marriage bliss.

Part 2. They did as God commanded (10-13).

Verses 10-13 read, “ So Zelophehad’s daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 Zelophehad’s daughters—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milkah and Noah—married their cousins on their father’s side. 12 They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father’s tribe and clan. 13 These are the commands and regulations the LORD gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.”

Zelophehad’s daughters did as the Lord commanded them. Their inheritance remained. Marriage is meant to bring joy to a couple and also bless and build up the community. Marriages surrendered to God’s will are blessed and bless others.

I thank God that these ladies changed their plans and followed God’s plan. Their whole tribe was blessed. I thank God for Hannah K and Augustine P. They love each other, Yes! But they also know that their marriage is not for their selves but for Jesus and for God’s glory. They were even willing to get married at the staff conference. I pray that my kids may think about the Jesus’ glory and the community they are part of when they think about their marriage.

I also realize that I must think about changing my will and my plans for the good of the community. It is not all about me. It is about the community of believers and the will of God. Jesus is my Good Shepherd. He will lead me to green pastures and quiet waters when I let him. (Ps 23)

Prayer: Lord, help us not to have a selfish view of marriage, but surrender our marriage to you.

One Word: They did as the Lord commanded