They came before not just Moses and Eleazar the prophet and priest of the people of God but all the chiefs of the clans as well. These were the men who led God’s people, acted as judges in arguments, and made judicial decisions. This was an auspicious group of people, and these women stepped up to the challenge of speaking before this governing body. These women spoke their mind before this court, and God would bless their courage.

Have you ever heard of the five daughters of Zelophehad? Perhaps I can jog your memory: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. No? Well, it’s probably not a surprise. These women are mentioned several times in the book of Numbers—not the most popular Old Testament book—and they just aren’t as famous as Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Yet, I find their story to be one that is an example of the traits of a Christian woman: The daughters of Zelophehad are courageous and bold, they desire the things of the Lord, and they are humble. We learn of their story in Numbers 27:

Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.” (Num. 27:1-4)

The daughters of Zelophehad courageously stood before the leaders of their people for a just request—to have an inheritance among God’s people.
First, I would like to highlight the courage these women demonstrated. The text states that the daughters of Zelophehad stood before the leaders of their people: they came before not just Moses and Eleazar the prophet and priest of the people of God but all the chiefs of the clans as well. These were the men who led God’s people, acted as judges in arguments, and made judicial decisions. This was an auspicious group of people, and these women stepped up to the challenge of speaking before this governing body.
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Perhaps you think you are better off living a private Christianity outside of the local church. Christ’s church is a messy place, full of saved sinners who will rub each other the wrong way, sin against each other, ignore each other, or try to control each other. While you may feel you get some benefit from walking in nature, practicing yoga, serving at the food bank, private devotion, etc., God has promised that it is in Christ’s church where you will grow up into love and be spiritually strengthened. No other activity can make that promise.

A while ago I was listening to a podcast about Jessica Buchanan, a humanitarian aid worker who was kidnapped and then rescued by SEAL Team Six. Such stories are filled with bravery and courage, not only by the person being rescued but obviously by those rescuing. The interesting thing was that Jessica had no idea that a seal team was going to rescue her; she had no idea what was going on for her behalf. The book of Ruth is similar in one particular way: The story focuses on a small Hebrew family that needs spiritual rescuing. God sets about rescuing them, and they don’t even see it coming.
In Ruth 1 we find both a nation and a family in spiritual disarray.
The story of Naomi’s family is set in the time of the Judges. If there is anything that is obvious about that time, it is that the people of Israel were continuing to fall away from God on a deeper and more tragic trajectory. Israel’s allegiance to God weakens more and more as the book of Judges progresses.[1] Elimelech and his family’s actions follow the mindset of life during the time of the Judges:

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judg. 21:25)

When faced with difficulty, Elimelech, Naomi, and their two children, Mahlon and Chilion, leave their home in Bethlehem and go to Moab to find sustenance. This is not just a normal move across town. As theologian Iain Duguid points out,

Elimelech’s choices were not equal choices, theologically speaking, in the way that the choice of city in which to live might be for us. God had called Elimelech to live in Bethlehem. He therefore had no business leaving there to go anywhere, least of all Moab.[2]

The land of Israel was God’s chosen land for his chosen people. God had given this land to Abraham’s descendants as a fulfillment of a promise to Abraham, and it was a land that was part of a special covenant between God and his people. Turning away from this land signaled a turning away from God who had given this land. Possessing the land was a special privilege, and having part of this land symbolized having a part in the people of God—a part in a life blessed by God. The Moabites, enemies of God’s people, ruled over Israel for 18 years during the time of the Judges. They had caused the people of Israel to sin grievously during the Exodus; therefore, God placed a curse on the sinful Moabites.
Elimelech’s family found weakness and death away from God and his people.
So while Elimelech, whose name means “My God is King,” and Naomi, whose name means “Pleasantness,” should have stayed in the land and cried out to their King for help to restore the pleasantness of the land of Israel, it seems that instead they looked with their eyes to find more pleasant fields of life in Moab.

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You don’t need to worry about being in the inner circle because you know you are loved eternally by God—you are in his heart. You don’t need to worry about pleasing or making yourself better according to worldly standards—you seek to show your thankfulness to God for your salvation by pleasing him. With this mindset, you will be able to set aside the self-centered, approval-seeking motivations and instead experience God’s peace and growth in grace as you focus on your master and Savior Jesus Christ.

We often get caught up with how we appear to others—our image is important to us. The desire for approval can creep into even the simplest tasks that we do, or preoccupy our thoughts. Whether it is the reason behind why we dress or act a certain way, the filters we use on our Instagram or Facebook posts, or the people we choose to hang out with in public, creating a persona or protecting the one we already have can be a sinister motivator. As Christians, how do we break with this self-centered behavior and the idolatrous search for approval by others?
Christians may find themselves to be outcasts because of their faith.
The apostle Peter has some very helpful words in the beginning of his second letter as he writes to Christians who would have been on the outside of society, those who would have been the outcasts. Because of their faith in Christ, they no longer would have fit in with their neighbors or former friends. The urge to slide back into society and feel the old sense of belonging would likely have been a temptation for them as no one likes to be the odd one out. Peter writes in his introduction,

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. (2 Pet. 1:1-3)

All Christians are in the same “inside circle” as children of God.
Peter tells his Christian brothers and sisters that they have received the same faith that the apostles have. The apostles don’t have a special Christianity because they are apostles. All Christians have the same beautiful and wonderful faith. All Christians by God’s power have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, helping them to face life challenges and grow in godliness. The Christianity that the apostles held is the same as the Christianity of the other followers of Christ (2 Pet. 1:1).
Have you ever felt left out? You look on while the popular girls or guys do their thing. You wish you were on the inside circle. You wish you had something special about you to make people notice. So, maybe you try to make yourself look different by your dress, make-up, lifestyle, activities. You try to play the part so somebody, anybody, will take notice and include you, make you feel special and sought after. With Jesus you don’t need to do any of that.
The most wonderful gift, Jesus himself, has been given to you along with all Christians over the centuries. Along with famous Christians, renowned missionaries, pastors, and evangelists who have done great works for Christ’s church, and even the apostles, you have the same faith. You are not second class. The Holy Spirit dwells in you like he dwelt in the apostles. Jesus is your Savior just like he was the apostle Peter’s. And you didn’t do anything to deserve this “faith of equal standing.”
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We can celebrate the coming of Jesus, because in him alone we find the light that frees us from the darkness of sin. We find the light that breaks into the darkness of our lives and hearts, changing and drawing us out of darkness into a relationship with the Light Giver. 

The Christmas season is a time when we often celebrate family, friends, joy, life, and all the good things we have. There is much for which to be thankful, and appreciation and enjoyment of these things is good. Yet, it is also easy to forget that Jesus came into the world without many of these things.
Jesus was not born into a festive family home ablaze with lights, the aromas of good food, and the joyful sounds of music and festivities. The buildup to his birth didn’t include lights, caroling, or cookie parties. Rather, Jesus came into the world where animals were kept. His earthly father was a carpenter; his mother was a young girl—one who was suspected of having sexual relations before marriage, and not with her husband to be. His first visitors were lowly shepherds and Eastern wise men. And yet, despite the differences, here are three reasons why it is perfectly fitting for us to celebrate Jesus’ birth joyously with overflowing hearts of gratitude:
1. Jesus takes our place before God’s judgment seat.
We all hate being judged by others, especially when our faults, sins, and transgressions are pointed out and we will suffer some hard consequence. Imagine a courtroom setting where God as the judge is passing just judgement on your sins. God is perfectly righteous, good, and just—and we are not. In fact, sin pervades even the nicest things we try to do.
Because God is just he must judge sinners. For our sin we must suffer eternal separation from the goodness of God and only experience his wrath against sin. This is our just condemnation if we try to stand alone and on our own merits before God.
Yet, God is also good, merciful, loving, and kind, and he promised a Savior who would willingly suffer for us in our stead. The righteous Judge sent his only begotten Son to take the punishment that we deserved, so that we could have forgiveness of our sins and a righteous standing before the good Judge.
Jesus willingly undertook this sacrifice because of his love for his Father and his love for us. Thus, we should rejoice exceedingly because the birth of Jesus was a major step toward God’s fulfillment of his promise to send a Savior who would take our place of judgment and give us the righteousness we need to stand blameless before the God of the universe.
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