1 Chronicles 7:13-19: a reflection

13The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum, and the sons of Bilhah. 14The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead. 15Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters. 16Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

This genealogy of the tribes lists mostly sons, the heads of families passed down through the generations. But tucked into the list is a small notice easy to pass over: Zelophehad had daughters. In a record dominated by the names of men, these daughters are mentioned; and their story, told elsewhere, is that when their father died with no sons, they boldly came forward to claim their rightful inheritance, and God granted it to them. Even in a list of sons, they are not left out.

Notice that the record does not overlook these daughters. In a genealogy where sons carry the line and the names, the daughters of Zelophehad are named, remembered for their rightful claim that God honored. They might easily have been left out, as women often were in such records; but they are here, noticed, remembered, their faithful initiative recorded. God took notice of those the ordinary reckoning might have passed over.

That is a quiet encouragement for any who feel overlooked by the world's records. You may feel that you are the kind of person who gets left out, unnamed, passed over in the accounts that matter to others. But God notices those the world overlooks; the daughters left out of the ordinary reckoning are remembered in his record. You are not overlooked by God, however the world's accounts may pass you by. He notices those others leave out, honors faithful initiative, and remembers those the record might forget. Take heart that the God who noticed these daughters notices you, and that your place in his record does not depend on the world taking note of you.

Lord, in a genealogy of sons, the daughters of Zelophehad are noticed and named, remembered for the rightful claim you honored, though they might easily have been left out. Encourage me with that when I feel overlooked. I may feel that I am the kind of person who gets left out, unnamed, passed over in the accounts that matter to others. But you notice those the world overlooks; the daughters left out of the ordinary reckoning are remembered in your record. I am not overlooked by you, however the world's accounts may pass me by. You notice those others leave out, honor faithful initiative, and remember those the record might forget. Help me take heart that you, who noticed these daughters, notice me, and that my place in your record does not depend on the world taking note of me. Thank you that I am seen and remembered by you.