Numbers 11:23-29 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” (24) So Moses went out and reported the LORD’s words to the people. He gathered the seventy elders and stationed them around the Tabernacle. (25) And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again. (26) Two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed behind in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but they had not gone out to the Tabernacle. Yet the Spirit rested upon them as well, so they prophesied there in the camp. (27) A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” (28) Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested, “Moses, my master, make them stop!” (29) But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!”
Moses was told to gather the best of the best, seventy elders. When they gathered around the Tabernacle, God gave them the same Spirit that was on Moses. When God’s Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. The Bible does not tell us what they prophesied, but it does tell us two of them were missing at the time.
Why did God tell Moses to gather the elders around the Tabernacle? Is this a way of showing a prophet has a need to move towards God? How many prophets can you think of who tried running away from God? How did He handle each situation? What lessons can we learn from each?
Moses also tells us about two prophets not at the Tabernacle, who still received the gift of prophecy. When their actions were reported to Moses, what was his reaction? “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!”
When we look back on the texts we see, “the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses,” before He, “gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses.” Did the Lord talk to Moses about the two missing elders, telling him the same blessing will also rest upon them? We can’t be certain. What lessons do these two prophets teach us? God’s power and Spirit extended way beyond the immediate area around the Tabernacle. God knew where to find the other two elders. We also learn from Moses’ comment, the gift of prophecy is open to all of the LORD’s people. This coincides with God’s wish immediately after leaving Egypt.
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
Think of it. When God refers to the people of Israel, is He including only those born to Jacob (Israel), or is He including every person who came out if Egypt? This promise was repeated in the New Testament.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Isn’t leaving Egypt to enter the promised land the same as being called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light?
Samuel's School of the Prophets 