INTRODUCTION
Zelophehad means, the shade or tingling of fear. A man from the tribe of Manasseh, he was part of the Israelites who left Egypt under Moses’ leadership and died in the wilderness. He had five daughters but no sons and therefore no male heirs. After His death, his daughters; Mahlah, Noha, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah went to Moses to demand their father’s inheritance because as women, they were not entitled to any inheritance. Moses took the matter to God and they were justified. We have Some lessons to learn from these ladies and the need to ask for our entitlements.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. THE NEED TO ASK
2. LESSONS FROM ZELOPHEHAD’S DAUGHTERS
THE NEED TO ASK
AIthough our heavenly Father knows needs (Matthew 6:8), Jesus emphasised the need to ask in Matthew 7:7. To ask is. important because it is those who ask that will receive (Matth. 7:8; 1 Kings 10:13). Enquiring sheds light on a subject (Deuteronomy 32:7-8) as it brings clarity and revelation. It brings results and requests are granted (Ezra 7:6). We have access to information and become informed (Genesis 43:7-8). It resolves the
question of leadership and provides adequate counsel (Judges 1:1; 20:23). Being specific in our demand gives us what we want (2 Kings 2:9-10: Matthew 7:9). It gives us access to our inheritance (Psalm 2:8). We get a good grasp of the old path (Jeremiah 6:16). Even research shows that asking questions builds emotional intelligence.
TOPIC: ZELOPHEHAD’S DAUGHTERS
MEMORY VERSE:
Numbers 27:7 (NKJV), “The daughters of Zelophehad (zih-LO-fuh-had) speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.”
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Numbers 27:1-7
[1] Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
[2] And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
[3] Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
[4] Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
[5] And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
[6] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[7] The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
LESSONS FROM ZELOPHEHAD’S DAUGHTERS
The following are Some life lessons to learn from these ladies.
1. BEING AUDACIOUS: Irrespective of their gender and the limitations placed on women in Israel (then) they were brave (Numbers 27:1).
2. ONE VOICE: They stood in unity before Moses, the priest, and even the e congregation C of Israel (Numbers 27:1-2; Genesis 11:6).
3. GO TO THE RIGHT SOURCE: These ladies did not beat about the bush; they went to the man in charge who they knew could handle their matter and give them what they wanted. They went to the right sources. (Numbers 27:2).
4. KNOWLEDGE: They were informed and had a good knowledge of history to know those who rebelled against God and died in the wilderness (Numbers 27:3a; Proverbs 13:16; 11:9).
5. SPEAK OUT: They placed a demand on Moses to get their father’s inheritance. Moses brought their matter to God (Numbers 27:4-5) and He vindicated them by granting their request (Numbers 27:7). As a child of God, you must learn to speak out and claim your inheritance.
6. EMANCIPATORS: They brought freedom to others as they raised the legal case of a woman’s right and obligation to inherit property in the absence of a male in the family and a law was made to regulate inheritance in Israel (Numbers 27:8).
7. OBEDIENCE: They fully complied with the instruction God gave through Moses that they should get married only within their father’s tribe (Numbers 36:6,11).
CONCLUSION
Taking what belongs to us may sometimes require some conscious, deliberate, and necessary efforts. Step out into you inheritance now.
QUESTIONS
1. Identify four reasons why believers must make enquiries
2. Draw out five lessons from the life of Zelophehad’s daughters
TOPIC: DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS
MEMORY VERSE:
Isaiah 52:11 (NKJV), “Depart! Depart! Go out from there,
Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean,
You who bear the vessels of the LORD.”
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Proverbs 31:2-6 (NKJV),
INTRODUCTION
Addition is a compulsive tendency developed over a period of continuous and repeated actions or exposure to a certain substance. It can result in loss of or shift in focus, social and emotional disconnect, poverty, death, etc.
LESSON OUTLINE
TYPES OF ADDICTIONS
There are two main groups of addiction: Substance and Non-substance addiction. Substance addiction is also known as substance use disorder. It refers to a condition in which an individual is unable to control the use of a substance despite experiencing negative consequences. Substance abuse is the excessive use of psycho-active drugs/substances such as skunk, marlin kush, molly, cocaine, opioidos-codeine, Colorado, ice, alcohol, cigarette, tobacco, marijuana, nicotine, dequadin, caffeine, zombie, etc. These substance could lead to physical, social and emotional harm (1Corinthians 3:17).
Non-substance addiction (Behavioural or process addiction) is addiction to mood-altering behaviors such as gambling, sexual activity – masturbation, sex, pornography (1kings 11:4-5; Proverbs 31:3), eating disorders, reckless spending (Luke 15:13-14) and shopping, watching television, etc. It could also be position addiction. The addict enjoys his power or affluence at the expense of others. Some examples of power addicts in the Bible include King Saul (1Samuel 20:30-31) and King Herod (Matthew 2:1-3, 16).
OVERCOMING ADDICTION
The following are guidelines on how to overcome addiction:
i. Take a stand. You must first of all acknowledge that addiction is an affliction and you are already caught up in it web. Then, you must be willing to break free from its bondage (Luke 51:17-18).
ii. Seek help. Acknowledge that you cannot help yourself. You must open up to God and to people who can be of help in breaking the evil habit (James 5:13-16; 1Peter 5:7). Surrender yourself for proper screening and therapies: pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and spiritual therapy.
iii. Avoid relapse. Withdrawal from addiction often comes with a myriad of challenges usually referred to as withdrawal syndrome. You must avoid exposures to all forms of triggers (1Corinthians 15:33; Ephesians 5:11-12). Relapse is to addiction what backsliding is to sin and its episode is usually worse than before the treatment/deliverance (2Peter 2:20-22; Matthew 12:43-45).
iv. Keep your heart with all diligence and renew it daily (Proverbs 4:23; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-23). Addiction is really a battle of the mind.
CONCLUSION
It is incumbent on the brethren not to cast away the victim at the critical time (Psalm 38:11) but to show him/her love and encouragement until the victory is attained (2Timothy 1:15-16; Psalm 133:1-3).
QUESTIONS
