MOSES’ WISH FOR ALL THE LORD’S PEOPLE

Passage: Numbers 11:24-35

Key verse: 29

NIV

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud(A) and spoke with him,(B) and he took some of the power of the Spirit(C) that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.(D) When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied(E)—but did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them,(F) 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,(G) who had been Moses’ aide(H) since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”(I)

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets(J) and that the Lord would put his Spirit(K) on them!”(L) 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

31 Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail(M) in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits[a] deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.[b] Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth(N) and before it could be consumed, the anger(O) of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.(P) 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,[c](Q) because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth(R) and stayed there.

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Footnotes
  1. Numbers 11:31 That is, about 3 feet or about 90 centimeters
  2. Numbers 11:32 That is, possibly about 1 3/4 tons or about 1.6 metric tons
  3. Numbers 11:34 Kibroth Hattaavah means graves of craving.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. (A)And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. 25 Then (B)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 (C)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 (D)Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, (E)stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? (F)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.

Quail and a Plague

31 Then a (G)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[a] 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 (H)homers.[b] And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 (I)While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and (J)the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. 34 Therefore the name of that place was called (K)Kibroth-hattaavah,[c] because there they buried the people who had the craving. 35 (L)From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed to (M)Hazeroth, and they remained at (N)Hazeroth.

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Footnotes
  1. Numbers 11:31 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. Numbers 11:32 A homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
  3. Numbers 11:34 Kibroth-hattaavah means graves of craving
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

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: 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: Speak and share the gospel