Some of the most significant teachings of the bible are not explicit. They are implicit as they are woven in throughout the stories and teachings of the Old and New Testament. What makes them significant is that they are prevalent–always showing up– and they are usually counter-cultural or counter-intuitive. Almost all of these teachings are universal, meaning they transcend space and time and are teachings that are relevant to all people for all time. There is one of these teachings tucked quietly in today’s readings.
The daughters of Zelophedad (descendant of Manasseh) had been promised an inheritance along with the male kin. These brave women now are taking God at his word who had made this promise going clearly against the grain of the culture where only male kin received the inheritance. (17:3-6) And Joshua obeyed the command of the Lord and gave it to them. This is a wonderful example of God gently but surely helping to bring justice into the world. Many of the laws of the Old Testament to us still seem very partial and sexist and patriarchal. But gently woven in all the stories are the movement of God toward the Galatians 3:16 ideal–that in Christ Jesus there is neither slave nor free, Jew nor Greek, male nor female, but all are one.
The scripture is full of these kinds of universal teachings that transcend the particulars of circumstances and are repeated from Genesis to Revelation. The specific ceremonial laws were specific to Israel and the culture of the time. The sacrifice needed for atonement of sin is a universal principle that is fully realized in Jesus giving his life for ours. The laws related to inheritance were very culturally driven, but God is at work behind the scenes beginning to move this people toward laws of greater justice and love. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was also the God of Sarah, Miriam, and Rahab!