Key Take Away:We must have more faith in His potential successes for our lives, than in our potential failures.

Let’s examine 7 aspects of this story and see what principles we can apply for victorious Christian living.

1.The People – Numbers 27:1

a.The significance of the names

“Mahlah” = disease
“Noah” = trembling/movable
“Hoglah” = partridge
“Milcah” = counsel
“Tirzah” = delight/well-pleasing

b.The sequence of the names

(1)From Zelophehad’s point of view

“Mahlah” – the baby was sick, hence the name

“Noah” – hoping for a boy, he calls it Noah, which
means rest; but adds to the name the
meaning “trembling” and “movable.”
Perhaps in the fear of the Lord.

“Hoglah” – perhaps he offered various partridges
(game birds) in order for God to give
him a son.

“Milcah” – Zelophehad perhaps sought much
counsel on “how to have a son.”

“Tirzah” – by this time, Zelophehad is content and
resigned to accept God’s will that his
children will have no inheritance of their
own.

(2)As applied to our lives

“Mahlah” – if you have any disease of the spirit,
soul, or body, turn to God with….

“Noah” – the trembling and the fear of God and let
the Holy Spirit move on you.

“Hoglah” – make an altar and offer your body and
life to God as a living sacrifice –
Romans 12:1

“Milcah” – seek outside, godly, and perhaps even
professional counsel.

“Tirzah” – delight yourself in the Lord with
contentment and be well-pleasing to Him
and others.
c.The sum of the names

(1)Five (5) is the number of grace.

(2)Grace is about to happen to these 5 young ladies.


2.The Problem

a.He was a stigmatized man

(1)Zelophehad means “sharp wounds” and also “the shadow of fear.”

(2)Two things can destroy us; the bitterness of the wounds in the past; and walking in persistent fear.
b.He was a sonless man – his daughters could not inherit his inheritance.

c.He was a submitted man – Numbers 27:3

Numbers 27:3 New King James Version (NKJV) 3 “Our father died in the wilderness; but he was not in the company of those who gathered together against the Lord, in company with Korah, but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons.

d.He was a sensitive man

(1)He was a good father

(2)His daughters were a reflection of positive upbringing

(3)He taught them to be sensitive to God and authority

3.The Passion – Numbers 12:2-3

6 things I’ve learned about passion:

a.Every person has the potential to become passionate.

b.Ignore what you are passionate about, and you ignore one of the greatest potentials inside of you.

c.Passion leads to the energy needed for excellence – Ecclesiastes 9:10

d.It’s passion that persuades, not just logic.

e.Passion is a belief that possesses you, not an idea you possess.

f.You will be remembered in this life only for your passions.

4.The Pursuit – Numbers 12:2-4; Joshua 17:4

a.7 aspects of their pursuit

(1)Discern – the direction of God

(2)Desire – is this something God wants for me?

(3)Discussion – safety in counsel and communication

(4)Disregard – the limitations and impossibilities and
“it’s never been done before.”

(5)Decision – no decision is a decision by default and
avoid decision remorse.

(6)Determination – came and faced Moses and later Joshua

(7)Declaration – with faith and boldness.

b.2 aspects of pursuit

(1)Pursuit necessitates focus in the face of distraction and persistence in the face of difficulty.

(2)“Unfortunately, the average person’s life consists of 20 years of having parents ask where he or she is going, 40 years of having the spouse ask the same questions, and, at the end, the mourners wondering the same” – John L. Mason

5.The Permission – Numbers 12:6-11

a.The pleasure of God – Numbers 12:7

b.The precedence of God – Numbers 12:8-11

6.The Possession – Joshua 17:1-5

5 Things we learn from their possession.

a.Possession takes patience – a long interval of time passed.

b.Possession takes persistence – they had to fight the enemy.

c.Possession takes perseverance – many probably made fun of them; women were not esteemed; they were thinking “out of the box.”

d.Possession takes persuasion – faith in God’s character and promises.

e.Possession takes purpose – one needs to have a sense of destiny and goals.

7.The Premium – Numbers 36:1-3; Numbers 36:7-13

a.They received their hope.

b.They received their husbands.

c.They received higher than their expectations – Ephesians 3:20