TRUE FREEDOM

This is what Yahweh has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whoever is good in their sight; only they must marry within the family

 of the tribe of their father.  Numbers 36:6

Zelophehad had died without any sons. These daughters had asked Moses if they would be able to inherit the land that was due their father (see Numbers 27:1-14). God said the women’s request was good; they should be given their father’s land. But now in Numbers 36 other men are concerned that if these daughters marry someone outside their tribe, the land will be transferred to another tribe. Verse 6 is God’s answer. The daughters are free to marry anyone they want, as long as they are within the tribe. 

At first, it might seem ‘restricting’ to only be able to marry within the tribe, but this provides a good example of the freedom we have in Christ. Freedom is often described as the opportunity to do whatever you want. But that is not true biblical freedom. That kind of freedom is actually enslavement to your lusts and passions.

True biblical freedom is the opportunity to do everything for the glory of the Lord in every aspect of life. The boundaries God places around us that restrict us at times are actually for our good. As we stay within those boundaries, we are then able to enjoy freedom in the way God intended. 

Some have described the moral will of God as a circle. Within that circle there are plenty of choices that can be made. As long as we stay in that circle, we have tremendous freedom to enjoy the many blessings God grants us in our life. But the second we step outside of that circle, we are stepping into the slavery of sin. May the Lord strengthen us to live in the blessings of true freedom. 

Joshua Steiner