“Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:20
“And why is it . . . I’m not afraid anymore?” Some might remember those famous words spoken during the heart-wrenching crucifixion in the epic movie Ben-Hur. This beautiful story written by Civil War General Lew Wallace depicts the life of Judah Ben-Hur, a young Hebrew man who endured many trials because of a false conviction. It was while he was in the Roman galleys that his mother, Miriam, and sister, Tirzah, were imprisoned in the Roman dungeon until they were found to have leprosy. Upon Judah’s return to his home, he was told his mother and sister had died, which caused him to enter the epic chariot race in Rome. Following that race, he learned his mother and sister were still alive but dying in a leper colony. Finding their nearly lifeless bodies in the valley of the lepers paralleled the crucifixion of a man who once offered Judah a drink of water. That man was Jesus. As the three witnessed the crucifixion, they felt the warmth of Jesus’ love and realized that Jesus was carrying the sins of the world. It was then that Tirzah said those now famous words: “And why is it . . . I’m not afraid anymore?”
The name of Judah Ben-Hur’s sister, Tirzah (“pleasure, beauty”), was likely taken from two chapters in the Old Testament that tell the story of a very courageous and noble woman who, along with her four sisters, fought for her family’s inheritance.
While still in the wilderness, the Lord instructed Moses to portion out the land according to the 12 tribes. As was the custom established by God, the inheritance would be given to the male heirs of each family. This was done so that the land within each tribe would never be given away through marriage to someone from a neighboring tribe. It was within the tribe of Manasseh that a unique problem arose. A man named Zelophehad died. As was the case with all those who were 20 years and older, Zelophehad was never to enter the Promised Land. However, it was noted that he was an upright man because “he was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin” (Numbers 27:3). The problem was that Zelophehad left no sons, only five daughters with the names of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. According to law, these women were forbidden to receive any inheritance.
Yet these five women had the courage and fortitude to bring their case publicly before Moses. “Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son?” (27:4). These women felt it was not fair for a family’s inheritance to be denied because there were no male heirs. Moses brought their argument before the Lord to seek his advice. God’s answer was this: “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and turn their father’s inheritance over to them” (27:7). Then he commanded Moses to “say to all the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter” (27:8).
A while later, the Lord refined the edict, adding that the daughters, however, must remarry within their tribe to keep the inheritance there, thus solving the problem of lands moving from tribe to tribe through marriage.
Tirzah and her sisters had the courage to question Moses about the precepts God had established. Often we hear that we should never question God, yet God invites us to come to him with all our concerns as children would approach their own fathers. As a loving and just Father, God listened intently to the prayer of Tirzah and her sisters and granted their request. He promises to hear our requests too!
Lord, grant us boldness and honesty like Tirzah, that we might approach your throne with requests from our hearts. Amen.
Recent Comments