Changing the World and Leaving a Legacy

(Genesis 12: 1-9; Numbers 27: 1-11)

As we celebrate Black History Month, we must recollect the inexorable pursuit of men and women who have changed their community, nation, and world and generated a blueprint for the future of equality and racial justice.  These persons recognized that the unrelenting resolve of one human being can result in the transformation of societal norms and even unjust legislated practices.  They attacked the foundations of discrimination and constructed a new paradigm for society and culture. 

Let me briefly identify a few such individuals:  William Wilberforce, Nanny of the Maroons, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Paul Bogle, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Thurgood Marshall, Lincoln Alexander and Barrack Obama.  By no means is this list exhaustive.  What do these individuals have in common?  They changed the world and left a legacy.  They represent a cross-section of the plethora of individuals whose indomitable spirits were the platforms to triumph over insurmountable odds and challenges.  By doing so, our lives have been significantly impacted.

The Bible is replete with examples of men and women whose commitment to God have changed the course of Biblical history, natural law and the future of the people of a nation.  Abraham was one such person and the daughters of Zelophehad were some others.  In this article, I will briefly peruse the life of Abraham and the daughters of Zelophehad to show how we can effect change in the world through our commitment to God and leave a legacy.  Changing the world through God requires commitment.

1.    Abraham changed the world through his commitment to God (Gen. 12:1-9)

God had established a covenant with Abraham.  This was a pivotal role in human history.  The Abrahamic Covenant signified an unconditional promise between God and Abraham, and subsequently his descendants, who formed the nation of Israel.  God is immutable.  That is, He does not change.  God promised in the Abrahamic Covenant that: Israel would be a great nation; the seed of Abraham would be blessed; Abraham would be given a great name; Abraham would be a blessing; God would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed him; Abraham would be given the Promised Land and through Abraham’s descendants, God would bless all the families of the earth with a Redeemer.

Although Abraham had a covenant with God, it was vital that Abraham played an effective role in the selection of Isaac’s (his son) wife.  Abraham wanted the promise of God to be made manifested through the actions of his descendants.  The lesson here is:  Parents, it is very important that we are keen on who our children are dating, engaging and marrying.  If we are going to change the world and leave a legacy, our children must be encouraged to make the right choices in the selection of their friends, careers, and future spouse.  Do not be side tracked by societal norms.  We must be resolute in providing  guidance to effectively navigate the life of our children.  This is not controlling them.  Parents, we must exercise our God given authority to teach our children. Changing the world and leaving a legacy entails parenting according to Scripture.  

2.     The Daughters of Zelophehad effected Change through their Commitment to God (Numbers 27: 1-11)

Joseph the quintessential Prime Minister of Egypt and Jacob’s prodigy had two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.  Jacob had blessed Ephraim and Manasseh his grandsons, when he was old.  Zelophehad was a descendant of Manasseh.  Zelophehad did not have any sons (Num. 26:33).  Fathering sons was vital in the transfer of land and other entitlements to a man and his descendants.   Zelophehad had five daughters.  Zelophehad died in the wilderness not seeing the Promised Land.   

The daughters looked beyond their gender and changed tradition and the property laws of Israel.  Their actions effectively charted a new direction for the civil and business laws of Israel.  Not only that, the daughters effected change in a nation for themselves and their descendants.  Zelophehad did not live to inherit what was rightfully his.  He died poor and destitute.  But, his five daughters were intentional.  They were never going to die hopeless and poor as their father.  They did something about it.  God agreed with the women and granted them their legacy.  

The lesson here is:  We can change the course of our lives.  Regardless of our background and present situation, regardless of our family history, as a child of God we can change the world through commitment to God.  Be committed to God and he will definitely bring out of us and our descendants, a blessed people.  Let us continue to trust the Sovereign God.    

Knowing one’s history is essential in how we perceive ourselves.  Knowing who we are will have an impact on how we treat others and interact with people in our world.  We must clearly understand who we are.  We must know that we are God’s people.  God’s people possess the ability to effect change in the world in which we live in various ways.  For those who are parents and more so fathers, God has given us an awesome responsibility.  We can accept this challenge with humility and through commitment to God and family; we must change the present state of our world and any future nation.  On the other hand, we can negate the mandate from God, causing a spiraling decline in our nation by inaction and disobedience.

Finally, we must make a conscious decision to change our world through commitment to God and our families.  I am aware that there are many persons whose resolve, is to nurture children according the Biblical mandate of Scripture.  In doing so, you have successfully accomplished such task, through sheer determination and the sustenance of the Almighty God.  I applaud your commitment to God.  You have changed the world and God expects you to leave a legacy (Psalm 127:3). 

Pastor Frank Douglas - Sr. Pastor

North Park Worship Centre

Feb. 5th, 2012