Introduction: A Love That Secures Our Future
In Numbers 36, we find a seemingly technical discussion about inheritance laws in Israel. The daughters of Zelophehad, who had previously won the right to inherit their father’s land (Numbers 27:1-11), now faced a new challenge. If they married outside their tribe, their inheritance would be transferred to another tribe, weakening the land allocations within Israel. God commanded that they marry within their own tribe to secure their inheritance.
While this passage might seem legalistic at first glance, it paints a powerful picture of Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom, who secures our eternal inheritance. Just as the daughters of Zelophehad needed to remain within their tribe to keep their inheritance, we, as the Bride of Christ, receive an inheritance that is secure only in Him. Revelation 19:7-9 reveals Jesus as the divine Bridegroom, preparing His Church for an eternal inheritance in His kingdom.
1. The Daughters of Zelophehad: A Picture of the Church
The daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah—represent a people seeking security and belonging. Their story highlights:
- The Value of Inheritance – The land in Israel was not just property; it was a covenant blessing from God. Likewise, our salvation in Christ is not just a momentary gift but an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4).
- A Need for a Faithful Bridegroom – If they married outside their tribe, they would lose their inheritance. In the same way, if we are not united with Christ, we forfeit the spiritual inheritance He alone provides.
- Obedience to God’s Instruction – The daughters obeyed and married within their tribe, securing their inheritance. This is a call for believers to remain faithful to Jesus, our true inheritance.
2. Jesus: The Bridegroom Who Seals Our Eternal Inheritance
The story of these daughters mirrors our relationship with Christ. Jesus is the Bridegroom, and we, His Church, are His Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). Our eternal inheritance is secured because:
- He Purchased Us with His Blood – Just as these women had to marry within their tribe, our inheritance is only secure in Jesus, who redeemed us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).
- He Prepares a Place for Us – In John 14:2-3, Jesus promises that He is preparing an eternal home for His Bride. This echoes the security the daughters of Zelophehad sought in their inheritance.
- He Unites Us to Himself – In Revelation 19:7-9, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb celebrates this divine union. Through our covenant with Christ, we will never lose what has been promised to us.
3. Our Response: Remaining Faithful to Our Inheritance
Just as the daughters had to make a choice, we are called to:
- Remain in Christ – Abiding in Jesus ensures that we do not drift from our inheritance (John 15:4).
- Live as the Bride, Awaiting the Bridegroom – We must be prepared, clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Revelation 19:8).
- Hold Firm to the Promise – Our salvation and eternal inheritance are not based on earthly gain but on the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 10:23).
Conclusion: The Wedding Feast Awaits
Numbers 36 may seem like a legal discussion about land, but in the grand story of Scripture, it points to Jesus—the Bridegroom who secures our inheritance forever. In Christ, we have a love that never fades, a promise that never breaks, and an inheritance that is eternally secure.
As Revelation 19:7-9 proclaims:
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.”
We, the Church, are His Bride, and our Bridegroom has made every provision for us. Now, we eagerly await the day when we will fully enter into our eternal inheritance—secure in the love of Jesus Christ.
