Moses had been leading the Israelites through the wilderness. He had been trying to teach them God's ways, but all he heard was complaining!
Numbers 11:10-11, 14- Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
Moses was getting tired. He needed help. He told God that he needed some help. And God was going to take care of Moses.
Numbers 11:16-17- And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
God told Moses to choose 70 men. Men who were wise and kind and honest. Then God was going to work a miracle in their lives so that they could help Moses.
Numbers 11:24-25- And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
Moses chose the men. And 68 of them gathered around the Tabernacle. God took the spirit of Moses and put it on the 70 elders. And they prophesied.
But only 68 had gathered. What about the other 2?
Numbers 11:26-30- But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
God took care of them, too. He put the spirit on them as well.
One of the men that saw it ran and told Moses. And this made Moses happy to know that God would do as he said.
But, what spirit was it? God said it was Moses' spirit, and Moses said it was God's spirit. Do you know?
Nehemiah 9:19,20,30a- Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets:
God put His spirit into Moses and the elders. His spirit went into them and became part of their lives. It gave them wisdom and understanding. It helped them do right, and lead with Moses.
We get God's spirit in us when we ask God to save us. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and helps us have wisdom and understanding. It shows us right from wrong. And if we listen, the Holy Spirit will guide us in God's will for our lives!
