Numbers 27 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence

Although each individual will be held accountable for his own sins, sometimes the sins of the fathers can have deleterious effects on their children. Zelophehad was not one of the followers of Korah and his rebellion, but he was one of the first generation who doubted God’s Word and refused to go into the land of Canaan and fight. When he died sonless, he left his five daughters without an inheritance in the Promised Land.  Similarly, when Moses died on Mt. Abarim for his rebellion against God’s Word, his sin had caused a void in the leadership of Israel, which would potentially leave them as sheep without a shepherd.

Thankfully, in both situations, the Lord made a way for the succeeding generations. In the first predicament, when Moses sought the counsel of the Lord, he told Moses to give the five girls their own possession by transferring the inheritance of their father to them. Normally, it would have gone to the firstborn son in order to preserve the name of the father, but in this case, their father’s name would be preserved through each of them. This rule, and the others corresponding to it, was not merely to honor the father but to keep the Lord’s promised to Abraham and to his seed after him. If, somehow, the seed would be cut off because of the sins of the fathers, then God’s word would be null and void, but the Lord always keeps his promises.

In the same way, the Lord had promised not only to lead his people out of Egypt but also to bring them into their own inheritance in the land of Canaan. And the sins of Moses or any other leader in Israel could not thwart God’s plan. As important as Moses was in the economy of Israel, he was not essential to God or to God’s people, the Lord could easily raise up another to take his place, and, it seems, the Lord already had one in mind. Joshua had served as an aide unto Moses, and he too was full of the spirit as Moses was. But he also was a leader and a warrior well suited to the task that lay ahead for Israel. God would use his faithfulness and his unique gift set to bring His people into the Promised Land just as he said.
What is encouraging to see in this case is how Moses responded to the news of his impending death. He did not argue with the Lord and raise up a complaint or lament. Instead, he pleaded for the wellbeing of the next generation asking God to appoint a man over the congregation of Israel who could go out and come in before them leading God’s people so that they would not be like a sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord had Moses commission Joshua in the sight of all the people that they might respect his authority and follow him into battle.

It is always encouraging to see a younger man being installed to serve in the ministry knowing that the Lord is continuing to show his faithfulness to His covenant promises for the generations to come. It also is encouraging to see young men who love the Lord and who are seeking to lead their own families in the way of the Lord that their own children might not miss out on God’s inheritance. Of course, in both areas in the home as well as in the church, men fall far short of God’s glory and eventually die for their own sins, but we expect God’s favor and mercy to continue on in the following generations, for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He will continue to bring to fruition his precious promises. And holding to these promises, we ask the Lord to give a double portion of His Spirit to our children as we remember God’s faithfulness and share with the coming generations the wondrous works of the Lord.