Bibledoorajar: Eldad and Medad

Moses selected the elders and the Bible says the names were all written down. The seventy men were invited to attend a meal with God on Mount Sinai. It was a time when the covenant given by God to His people would be ratified. The seventy were present but not in as close proximity to God as Moses and the  priests. But a portion of the spirit given to Moses was placed on the elders. It turns out that two men whose names had been written were not present. They were back in the camp. However, the spirit also poured out on them and they prophesied as did the others. The diverse group of elders numbered 70, a number that reflects the perfection and completeness of the covenant of God. To exhort the people with its' truth was the goal intended for them.

Joshua got word that Eldad and Medad were also prophesying in the camp. This seems to have upset Joshua greatly for Moses sake. Perhaps he thought they were faking and therefore were an embarrassment to the holiness of the situation and to their great leader. But Moses words to Joshua were:

 “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Moses saw it differently. He wished that the power and might of God might spread throughout the whole nation of Israel. He wished that each Israelite might be given the power and might to exhort and edify another. He wished that all Israelites might reflect higher truth. Moses wanted the glory of God manifested as much as possible. Do you realize Christ made this possible?

Actos 2 shows us that Jesus Christ instituted a New Covenant that made this indeed ability possible. The Spirit was poured out on all believers. We are all to bear the word of God to each other and to be a light to the world. The diversity of the believers ensures that greater edification and exhortation takes place, but at its' core we all share a risen Lord who will restore all things as God intends (Acts 3). The New Testament declares that he who can say to another that Jesus is Lord is a prophet. We should all be glad that now all the Eldads and Medads who believe have been given the power. The apostle Paul said that his desire was for all Christians to prophesy. What a great covenant Jesus has brought to us and I say HE IS LORD! How about you?

Moses Gets Help

God heard the plea of Moses for help with the people and gave him specific directions as to how to procure that help. We learned about the selection of 70 elders being selected as the dignitaries who would serve under the leadership of Moses in Exodus 24. These, no doubt, were like unto the "husband respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land which is mentioned in Proverbs 31:23. In Numbers 11, however, we read more about the specificity of God’s call for this particular body of leaders who were to serve with Moses in the wilderness: Though already respected for their roles, it appears that God intended to elevate them to a more spiritual and specific role. He said:  “Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you” (verse 16). The fact that seventy were to be selected indicated that God intended for them to perfectly carry out and complete God's law among the people. To ensure this taking place consistently, power would have to come from somewhere to enhance their natural virtues and talents. The seventy men were to come with Moses to the Tent of Meeting and receive a portion of the spirit which God had previously given Moses. When this happened the men prophesied indicating a special endowment from God had taken place. They did not just have a heightened awareness of how the world handles things, but rather were shown Divine matters and were able to speak with the people from this perspective. His holy ways were the efficacious means of all problem solving and of all proceeding. It must have been wonderful for these men to see the beauty of His holiness and to love and honor Him for who He is.

"As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

                                                                      Matthew 13

Thank you Holy Spirit for Your impartation of power to understand the beauty and power of His holiness and the productivity it gives our lives. 

Bibledoorajar: Up the Wazoo!

     The book of Numbers records that after the mixed multitude grew greedy and complained that they needed an easier life,  the people of Israel renewed their weeping and said if only they had meat to eat! Then they recalled that the fish they used to eat in Egypt had cost them nothing (uh, bondage, duh?) and now they had nothing to look at but Manna (a miracle!).
      Both God and Moses heard the weeping and both were displeased in their own way. Moses wondered why God was treating him so badly in that he had given him a people to lead that did not want to be led. He asked God if he had lost favor since he had had nothing to do with their conception, infant hood, or their becoming the inheritance of their ancestors. Where in the world would he get meat for those people whose requests for him to provide it went on and on and on? He then requested mercy from God that he would not have to go on carrying this burden alone. God provided a plan to help relieve His servant, Moses, by allowing him to select elders to help him. And as for the people, they would have meat. Up the wazoo!!!! Moses told the people that they would not eat meat one day but a whole month! That is, if they would consecrate themselves anew to their God. They were, after all, still His people.

Consecration:  to make holy or to dedicate to a higher sacred purpose.

God knew that His people could not continue on to the Promised Land with steadfastness if they had not consecrated themselves anew to His higher way of life and purpose. Where would they get the power to do so? Therein is a message for those of us who call ourselves His people today. If all we have to look at day after day is the Bible (our Manna- miracle) without consecration, our steadfastness runs the peril of spiraling down to complaints and desires to give up. Or worse yet, take on greedy thoughts which the apostle Paul classifies as a form of idolatry. If that happens we run the risk of missing this:

 "There are depths of love that I yet may know

  Ere Thee face to face I see;

There are heights of joy that I yet may reach

  Ere I rest in peace with Thee."
Getting Personal with Fanny Crosby, 1874