Freedom Within Boundaries

"This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father's tribe.'"

Numbers 36:6

The daughters of Zelophehad came to Moses with a concern.  Because their father only had given birth to daughters and the inheritance of land was passed down through sons, in years to come their land would pass to a different family and tribe.  Moses brought their case before the LORD who provided guidance in how the issue was to be rectified.  They were free to marry whomever they thought best but were to marry within their family.  Marrying a first cousin was a very common practice in the ancient world and remains a norm in middle eastern countries to this day.  Their obedience to God's directive would ensure the inheritance of land given them by lot would remain in the family for generations to come.

This concept of complete freedom within the boundaries God set is seen frequently in scripture.  Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were free to eat from all the trees in the garden except for the tree right in the middle:  the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  If they desired to live, they needed to heed the limits God had set.  The freedom God gives people is to be fully enjoyed within the confines of God's righteousness, goodness and love.  The freedom Christians have in our relationship with God through faith in Jesus is not to be used as an excuse or license to sin, but it is the freedom to do righteously according to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  This freedom is within the boundaries of God's love.  As sheep of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ we can use our freedom to foolishly wander from the flock, but the best use of our freedom is in the pasture God has graciously provided in the presence of our Saviour.

The pattern of freedom within the boundaries God establishes can be seen in many aspects of life:  in a marriage relationship, family, work, ministry and worldly pursuits.  All is lawful but not all edifies, and it is good when we walk wisely and circumspectly in obedience to Jesus.  God has given us a will that is best surrendered to the will of God to do what we know is right according to Christ's example and God's word.  When Paul compared the Christian walk to an athlete competing in a match, he reminded believers of the importance to strive lawfully according to the rules of the event.  Those who transgress the rules will be disqualified by the judge, and the same idea applies to our need to walk in God's love, forgiveness and grace towards all.

The boundaries for the Christian walk are not supplied by the Law of Moses but by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."  This liberty is freedom from the slavery of sin and freedom to do what pleases and glorifies God.  By faith in Jesus we are all made part of the Body of Christ, and the function of a hand is not to benefit only itself alone but the entire Body.  In the context of having Jesus as our head Ephesians 4:16 says, "...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."  Praise God for the freedom we have in Jesus and for the infinite boundaries of His love!