Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FORUM
Word for the Day
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path".
Psalm 119:105
Rights of Women who are Protected
Numbers 36:1-13
This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad,'Let them marry whom they think best, only they shall marry within the clan of the tribe of their father (Num 36:6)
Till the narrative of the daughters of Zelophehad, the succession of the land was through the sons of the family. The daughters of Zelophehad had no brothers and the issue of who would have succession of their land was described in Num 27:1-11. This incident is important since this incident again substantiates the fact that for God there was no distinction between man and woman and each had similar rights.
1. Rights and Laws for Edification: Every legislation is not for the harassment of humans but for mutual edification and to bring about order in a society. But sadly today, humans are harassed using legislations as a tool. This is a dangerous trend. In the pericope that was read, we see that when the daughters of Zelophehad had an issue, they approached Moses who through God gave a ruling that safeguarded their rights. And further when the heads of the clan had a further clarification„a further interpretation was given which further helped for the edification. Every law thus should be for helping humans rather than harassing them.
2. Freedom with Responsibility: The daughters of Zelophehad were given the right to have succession over the land. But they were also asked to marry within their own tribe so as to keep the land's ownership within their own tribe. They had their freedom, but Moses asked them to be responsible since they had a commitment to the tribe to which they belonged. With every freedom that we enjoy, we have to remember that we need to be responsible so as to sustain the freedom that we have. Zelophehad's daughters understood that they had their rights protected and also that they had to be responsible. We have rights and laws in the world that we live. Let's be responsible citizens and thereby safeguard our rights alongwith the rights of our fellow beings.
PRAYER
God, help us to be responsible with all you have entrusted to us and help us formulate laws and rights that help for the edification of all, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God has given laws and responsibilities to sustain and not to exploit life.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church


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