Moses’ Wish for All the Lord’s People

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Moses’ Wish for All the Lord’s People

Date: Jan. 20, 2022

Passage

Numbers 11:24-35 (ESV)

24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

31 Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague. 34 Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving. 35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed to Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 11:29

But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

God put the power of the Spirit on the seventy elders. When Joshua heard about two elders, who had not joined the tent meeting, prophesying in the camp, he thought that they should stop. Maybe he tried to protect Moses’ unique role and authority as God’s prophet. But Moses wanted everyone to have God’s Spirit on them. Later, the prophet Joel spoke the same message that one day, God’s Spirit would be poured out on all people. His prophecy was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Jesus during the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2). The era of the Holy Spirit has come after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now we Christians, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, are his prophets. We declare the praises of him and share the message of God’s grace and truth with others.

In keeping his promise, God gave Israel quail. They went out and gathered a huge amount of quail. They cooked them, licked their chops and took bites. But while they were chewing the meat, God struck them with a plague. When they didn’t put their complaining, their carnal desires, and their unbelief to death, they went down to their graves and were buried with their unbelief. We are to bury the sins of craving and complaint with the strength that Jesus gives us.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, I repent of my carnal craving and complaining. Help me share the gospel as your prophet with the help of the Holy Spirit.

One Word: One Word: Speak and share the gospel

Joseph Before Pharaoh

Genesis 41:1-36

Key Verse: 41:28

Today's Question

How did God create man?

See answer and references