24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and placed them all 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 when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26 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, 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 son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men,[a] 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 and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” 30 And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
Reflection
I am writing this on Sunday May 24th , Pentecost Sunday, celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Jesus’ ascension occurred ten days before and signified Jesus completion of his work on Earth.
If you were not able to see Pastor Joe’s message this morning, it is, in my mind, a must see as Joe beautifully captures the message that we are powerless without the presence of the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us as we desire to effectively continue Jesus’ work here on earth.
Living in this upside-down world I really needed to be reminded of the fact that the Spirit is available to each of us and that if we pray and believe, the Spirit will empower us to bring Godly values and power to our world.
Pastor Joe also reminded us that the Holy Spirit has been with us since the very beginning.
Our scripture today is a snapshot of Moses’ time, 13th century B.C., when God’s people had escaped Egypt, and were feeling like they had made a mistake because of all the foods they were missing as their only food was manna. Moses has lost his patience and tells the Lord he is unable to carry the weight of the people alone. The Lord is angry with the people but, in verse 16, has compassion on Moses and tells him that he will give the help that he needs.
1. The Spirit Rests on Appointed Leaders
Moses gathered 70 elders, and God took of the Spirit that was on Moses and distributed it among them. This teaches us that the Holy Spirit empowers specific individuals for God’s purposes — and that spiritual gifting can be shared without the original recipient losing their anointing.
2. The Spirit’s Presence Produces Outward Evidence
When the Spirit rested on the 70 elders, they prophesied. The Holy Spirit’s presence is not silent or invisible — it produces real, observable manifestations in people’s lives.
3. The Spirit Is Sovereign and Not Controlled by Human Structures
Two men — Eldad and Medad — remained in the camp yet still received the Spirit and prophesied. They weren’t at the tent of meeting with the other 68. This teaches that the Spirit moves independently and not only within officially sanctioned settings or locations.
4. Leaders Must Not Be Threatened by the Spirit’s Work in Others
Joshua was upset and asked Moses to stop Eldad and Medad. Moses rebuked this impulse, showing that godly leadership welcomes the Spirit’s work in others rather than guarding spiritual turf or feeling threatened by it.
5. God’s Desire Is for Universal Spirit-Filling
Moses’ famous response — “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put His Spirit on them!” is a prophetic longing that points forward directly to:
- Joel 2:28-29 — God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh
- Acts 2 — the fulfillment at Pentecost, where the Spirit was given to all believers, not just select leaders
6. Prophecy Is the Primary Sign of Spirit-Filling Here
The consistent sign in this passage is prophecy — speaking God’s word under divine anointing. This establishes an early biblical pattern connecting Spirit-filling with proclamation of God’s truth.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
Numbers 11:24-30 teaches that the Holy Spirit is sovereign, generous, and not confined to human systems. Moses’ longing for universal Spirit-filling becomes one of the great redemptive-historical anticipations of the New Covenant, where every believer receives the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:13-14).
How do you feel about praying to the Holy-Spirit?
Feeling uncomfortable with that? Please be sure to hear Pastor Joe’s message as a first step.
If you want to go further, Pastor Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor at the Church of the Resurrection, has a new, short book, titled “The Holy Spirit” that is a wonderful read in my opinion and available for Kindle.Is our God too small?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, we pray for your power and presence in our hearts and souls that we may be able to be strong and effective carriers of your word in a hurting world. Amen.
