Day 065 Numbers 26-27
Welcome to Day 065. After forty years of wandering, it's time for a new census. The old generation is dying off. A new generation that didn't rebel at Kadesh is ready to enter the Promised Land.
God commands Moses to count the fighting men of this new generation. It's not that their numbers have grown dramatically. In fact, over thirty-eight years, they remained stagnant. No growth.
Then the daughters of a man named Zelophehad come to Moses with a problem. Their father died with no sons. In that culture, only males could inherit land. So these daughters have nothing.
Moses brings their case to God. And God says: Give them their father's inheritance. This becomes the law. Women can inherit land!
Finally, God brings Moses to Mount Abarim to see the Promised Land. Moses can see it all from a distance! The land he's spent his whole life leading others toward, but will never enter himself.
Moses is concerned about the people. He asks God to appoint a leader. God chooses Joshua and tells Moses to lay hands on him, commissioning him publicly.
The Heartbeat: God brings new generations into His purposes. He values every person, even those that the culture overlooks (women). And He raises up leaders to continue His work, even when the original leader won't see the finish line.
Heart-Check: What are you building for a generation you won't see? What legacy are you leaving?
Listen to today's verses from the ESV, then scroll down to select your learning path for today's reading for supplemental studying.