It should not surprise us that an episode created a statute – a standing order with consequences. We have seen how women protested to Moses the practice of male- only inheritance and obtained a nod from Yahweh
THE PROTEST
Numbers 27:4
Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”
No differential treatment
1 Samuel 30:22
A group of wicked and worthless guys among those who went with David had the audacity to suggest that anyone who did not go on the mission against the Amalekites should not receive a portion of the booty. As far as these lowlife warriors were concerned these men who did not fight should be sent home with their wives and children
David sees the suggestion as ridiculous. He asks (1 Samuel 30:24) “And who will listen to you in this matter?” Then he settles the case with “For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”
That is what got David going. Here we can see the heart of God in the man.
Do not believe that everything called law, statute and judgment are from eternity past. They could very well be something humans had the courage to demand.
An early example of justice rising from the human heart
“The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. Num. 27:7, And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. Num. 27:8, And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. Num. 27:9, And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. Num. 27:10, And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the LORD commanded Moses.’” Num. 27:11
All those judgments about stoning people, cutting them off, have little to do with the justice of heaven, which states unrelenting forgiveness and invitations to come for mercy. They are not really eternal. Neither are those “unclean until sunset” rulings any heavenly standard. They died with the priesthood (Heb. 7:12). The law of Moses allowed no reprieve for the guilty: we can find no record of that. Yeshua however demonstrated the opposite. If Christians want to sound tough (on crime or sin) let them, but it must never be said that there is no release for the guilty.
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, Acts. 13:38, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Acts. 13:39, Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: Acts. 13:40,
We recognize this graceful and effective mediation as eternal, a thing decreed in eternity past, which clearly makes the Mosaic regulations temporary and at the right time irrelevant. The example of David putting his foot down and saying “We are not going there with discrimination” should inspire us to ask the questions that highlight what God has put into the hearts of men, not religious or spiritual people per se.
All humans are capable of doing justice, of loving kindness, and of walking humbly (Micah 6:8). So go right ahead: protest and ask the tough questions.
- What kind of justice is it when…?
- Who do you think will put up with that treatment?
- Why should men …. and not women…?
- (my favourite) Where in the Bible did you find that rubbish?
