Numbers 36

We finish the book of Numbers today. It closes with a domestic situation. Leaders of the half tribe of Manasseh were concerned about the daughters of Zelophehad. Earlier Moses ruled that because Zelophehad had no sons, his inheritance could pass to his daughters. But the leaders were concerned that if these women married outside their tribe then their land would pass to another tribe, reducing the territory allotted to Manasseh on the west side of the Jordan. It was a legitimate concern. Therefore, Moses gave the judgment that the daughters of Zelophehad had to marry within their tribe.

We also must marry within our "tribe"--that is a believer must only marry an unbeliever, lest the inheritance the Lord has given us (including our children) pass to the heathen. We must not be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

In the podcast today, I tell the story of how Cindy and I married. It was a decision neither one of us took lightly. We sought God's will and gave Him opportunity to say no. But thirty-seven years later we are still happily married and serving the Lord together. God blesses when we do it His way!

Numbers begins with a census and ends with a rule about marriage. The best way to build the body of Christ is by building godly families that pray together and stay together!