This chapter is about people inheriting. We first have the appeal of the daughters of Zelophehad, for them to inherit property in the Promised Land, in their late father’s name (v1-4). Up until then only sons could inherit and as there were no sons in this family they would not inherit anything.

Moses turns to the Lord for guidance (v5-7). It was not a matter of what he thought was right or wrong, but rather what God said. The result was these daughters and other daughters in a similar situation would inherit (v8-11).

God’s people need to come before Him when there are situations of injustice.

The second inheritance was for someone to succeed Moses as leader of the people (v12-23). This was needed because of how Moses would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land due to his sin in bringing water from the rock and drawing attention to himself (v12-14; see Numbers 20 v9-12).

Much time has passed, but God’s memory of the incident and His judgment remains the same. Sin for God is no trivial thing, whether it be the sin of today, or the sin of decades ago.

Moses wants a suitable leader to be found (15-17) and Joshua son of Nun is chosen (v18-21)? He was to be commissioned by Moses in front of all the people so that they would know and remember that he was God’s appointed man (v22-23). Joshua was not to lead the people as they wanted, but as God commanded.