Numbers 27:1-11: a reflection

1Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying, 3“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons. 4Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.” 5Moses brought their cause before the LORD. 6The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 7“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.’”

The daughters of Zelophehad, whose father had died leaving no sons, come before Moses with a bold request. In their society, only sons inherited; and without a son, their father's name and portion would be lost. Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, they ask, because he had no son? Give to us a possession. They had no standing, no obvious right; yet they bring their cause. And God vindicates them: The daughters of Zelophehad speak right; you shall surely give them a possession. God heard the cause of the overlooked and gave them justice.

Notice that God attended to the cause of those without standing, and gave them justice. The daughters had no recognized right in their society; they were easily overlooked, their cause easily dismissed. But they brought it, and God did not dismiss it; he declared they were right, and made a just provision for them, and for others in their situation after them. God attended to the cause of the overlooked, the voiceless, those without standing, and gave them justice. He did not overlook them because they were easily overlooked; he heard their cause and vindicated it.

That is worth taking to heart, for God attends to the cause of the overlooked and voiceless, and gives them justice. We can feel that our cause is easily overlooked, that we have no standing, no voice, that our need will be dismissed; but God attended to the cause of Zelophehad's daughters, who had no standing, and gave them justice. God is not indifferent to the overlooked; he hears the cause of the voiceless and those without standing. If you feel overlooked, without standing or voice, do not think your cause is beneath God's attention; he attends to the overlooked and gives them justice, as he heard the daughters of Zelophehad. And care yourself for the cause of the overlooked and voiceless, as God does, giving justice to those without standing, rather than dismissing them; for God attends to the cause of the overlooked, and vindicated the daughters who had no recognized right, giving them justice.

Lord, the daughters of Zelophehad, whose father had died leaving no sons, come before Moses with a bold request. In their society, only sons inherited; and without a son, their father's name and portion would be lost. Why should the name of our father be taken away, they ask, because he had no son? Give to us a possession. They had no standing, no obvious right; yet they bring their cause. And you vindicate them: the daughters of Zelophehad speak right; you shall surely give them a possession. You heard the cause of the overlooked and gave them justice. Show me that you attended to the cause of those without standing, and gave them justice. The daughters had no recognized right; they were easily overlooked. But they brought their cause, and you did not dismiss it; you declared they were right, and made a just provision. You did not overlook them because they were easily overlooked; you heard their cause and vindicated it. Take that to my heart, for you attend to the cause of the overlooked and voiceless, and give them justice. I can feel that my cause is easily overlooked, that I have no standing; but you attended to the cause of Zelophehad's daughters, and gave them justice. You are not indifferent to the overlooked. If I feel overlooked, without standing or voice, keep me from thinking my cause is beneath your attention; you attend to the overlooked. And help me care for the cause of the overlooked and voiceless, Lord, as you do, giving justice to those without standing, rather than dismissing them.