It was a warm evening and the girls sitting in their tent looked at each other as they resolved to carry out their plan. \u00a0They stood up and holding hands made their way out of the tent and started their short walk towards the place of meeting. As they walked by the other tents scattered around the camp, their hearts raced within them but finding strength in each other they marched on.
\nWhen they arrived the tent of meeting, all the leaders were seated there. The chiefs of the tribes, the high priest, the entire congregation of the people and Moses himself! The man whose face will shine so bright sometimes everyone will have to hide from him out of fear.
\nHere they were in the midst of all these people about to do something that has never been done before, something which some would think is outrageous for women to do.
\nShivers ran down their spines and for a second, Mahlah the oldest sister wondered if she had just endangered her sisters\u2019 lives by leading them to do this daring thing. Tirzah, the youngest felt her knees go weak beneath her and Milcah squeezed her hand tightly, looking into her eyes and giving her a nod of encouragement.
\nWell this was it, they had come this far and there was no turning back now. So Mahlah began her speech\u2026<\/p>\n
Before we get to the speech\u2026<\/p>\n
This is a story found in the book of Numbers (my version of it). A story of 5 sisters called Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah – the daughters of Zolephehad. You can read the original story in Numbers 27.<\/p>\n
Now onto the speech\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cOur father died in the wilderness. He wasn\u2019t part of Korah\u2019s rebel anti-God gang. He died for his own sins. And he left no sons. But why should our father\u2019s name die out from his clan just because he had no sons? So give us an inheritance among our father\u2019s relatives<\/em>.\u201d<\/strong> These women dared to go in front of a congregation of people to demand for what was rightfully theirs. In a culture where women were expected to be quiet and follow the lead of the men, where it wasn\u2019t expected of a woman to demand for what they were asking for. Reading this inspiring story of these 5 bold sisters, it occurred to me that sometimes we keep quiet when we should speak up and the cost of our silence is bigger than we know.<\/p>\n Have you ever faced a situation where you felt you were being cheated, sidelined, overlooked or under looked?<\/p>\n Have you ever been scared of asking for something that you know you deserve but somehow it looks too big and daring an ask? Here are 3 points from the story of the daughters of Zelophehad that you should remember when faced with a situation as such<\/p>\n 1. Know Your Worth and Refuse to Settle For Less.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The girls knew it was going to be unfair for their father\u2019s inheritance to be lost just because he had no sons. This was unfair and they refused to settle for less. 2. Challenge the Status quo When Required\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes just because an idea is widespread or even cultural accepted and established, doesn\u2019t make it right. Sometimes such ideas need to be challenged. 3. Its bigger Than You<\/strong><\/p>\n The outcome of the bold act the daughters of Zelophehad carried out transcended just them collecting the inheritance of their dad. Their lineage was going to be affected by this bold action of their mothers. Other women in the same situation like them benefited from their boldness. The law was changed because of them: Many people might just be waiting for you to take the bold step. The lives of more people than you could imagine might just depend on you carrying out a daring act of faith.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Numbers\u202c \u202d27\u202c:\u202d2\u202c-\u202d4\u202c \u202dMSG\u202c\u202c<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nIt was a bold and daring move. \u00a0Yet these women did it and yes it did pay off!
\n
\n\u201dGod ruled: \u201cZelophehad\u2019s daughters are right. Give them land as an inheritance among their father\u2019s relatives. Give them their father\u2019s inheritance.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u202d\u202dNumbers\u202c \u202d27\u202c:\u202d6\u202c-\u202d7\u202c \u202dMSG\u202c\u202c<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhether is asking for a promotion you deserve or asking for more from your relationships, or even asking for something from God in prayer.
\nHave you ever felt like it\u2019s too big to ask? Even though you know you deserve it?<\/p>\n
\nAre you aware of who you are? Of what you are worth?
\nDon\u2019t settle for a relationship in which you aren\u2019t treated well or for a position below your true worth. Don\u2019t settle for less than what God has said is available to you. Bring yourself to awareness of all that you are worthy of and accept nothing less than that because you deserve it. Daniel knew all too well about this. After researching, he discovered that he and his people were meant to be out of captivity yet they were still in captivity. So he decided to speak up. (Daniel 9:2)<\/p>\n
\nThe girls said \u2018\u201dWhy should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son<\/em>?\u201d They dared to ask a valid question that others were probably too scared to ask. Remember that sometimes the situation won\u2019t change until someone speaks up. That someone may just be you.
\nSo maybe you need to take a look around your family, community, church, society\u2026 Is there a status quo that needs to be challenged? Ask God for the boldness to help you do so.<\/p>\n
\n\u201d\u201cThen tell the People of Israel, If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give it to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give it to his father\u2019s brothers. If his father had no brothers, give it to the nearest relative so that the inheritance stays in the family. This is the standard procedure for the People of Israel, as commanded by God through Moses.\u201d\u201c<\/em>
\n\u202d\u202dNumbers\u202c \u202d27\u202c:\u202d8\u202c-\u202d11\u202c \u202dMSG\u202c\u202c<\/em><\/p>\n