The Spirit Rested on the Elders

Our Love for God

Loving God by Trusting Christ

Submit to God in Love

Numbers 11:24-34 The Message

24-25 So Moses went out and told the people what God had said. He called together seventy of the leaders and had them stand around the Tent. God came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they didn’t continue; it was a onetime event.
26 Meanwhile, two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were listed as leaders, but they didn’t leave camp to go to the Tent. Still, the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.
27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”
28 Joshua, son of Nun, who had been Moses’ right-hand man since his youth, said, “Moses, master! Stop them!”
29 But Moses said, “Are you jealous for me? Would that all God’s people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them.”
30-34 Then Moses and the leaders of Israel went back to the camp.

For Reflection

The contrast between the seventy who received the Spirit from God through Moses and the two elders who stayed in the camp shows us the will of God.  All but Eldad and Medad felt qualified to attend to Moses. Perhaps the two who remained in the camp felt unworthy of such a high calling.  If so, their humility attracted God's attention, and God gifted to them the power of the holy spirit to pray, prophesy, and teach according to the Spirit visited upon them.

Perhaps the others, like Joshua, were concerned that Moses' influence would be diminished by those who were not as qualified as the seventy thought they were.  The seventy were blessed with instruction from Moses and God and prophesied only once.

But it was those who saw themselves as unworthy to answer God's call who continued the work of God.  I suppose that if one thinks that he or she is more worthy than another in the sight of God, it is proof that they are unworthy.

Pray

Pray so that you will humble yourself at the feet of  Christ  Pray so that you will respond to the will of God through the Holy Spirit.

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