Numbers 11-12

Ever wanted the limelight all to yourself? Ever worked in a place where you knew you were needed? Where you were indispensable? Ever had a gift for something that no one else around you had? Ever received favor for your unique abilities or talents?

Then have you ever had someone else come in and display those very same talents, abilities, or roles? Ever had that indispensable feeling ripped right out of your hands? Had the thought that no one could replace you, then watched as you were replaced!

Joshua had that moment of fear in today’s reading. As the seventy elders were selected to help bear the burden of the people with Moses, God’s placed His Spirit upon them making them all begin to prophesy. But there were two others whose experience was a little different.

Eldad and Medad had remained in the camp while the seventy went and met with God, and even though they were not a part of the seventy, God still anointed them with His Spirit and they began prophesying also. When news of this reached Joshua (the attendant of Moses from his youth), he called for Moses to restrain them. But I love Moses’ response, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29)

Joshua had served under Moses since his youth. We have seen Joshua tag along to some amazing places with Moses (he went up with Moses on Mt. Sinai when no one else was permitted!) and we will continue to see this discipleship relationship transpire. No doubt that Joshua recognized Moses’ special position before Israel. No doubt he watched as Moses had all the attention (as he stood right at Moses’ side).

Here then comes news of others doing marvelous things because of God’s Spirit and Joshua reveals a little bit of his selfish self-glorifying heart by calling upon Moses to make them stop. Moses though sees through to his heart, “Are you jealous for my sake?”

I haven’t quite figured out how best to read this comment. It could be understood as “Really you’re concerned about yourself and you prestige, aren’t you Joshua?” Or it could be read as “Don’t worry about me, Joshua.”

I think there is a hint of both. Moses is correcting Joshua but also pointing him to a greater day. Moses goes on to share his prayer for God’s Spirit to be upon all God’s people, not just he and a few others. Moses did not see glory in the selected few, but he looked to that day when all God’s people would have His Spirit and would all be prophets.

Moses looked in part to what we experience today! We as believers have been given the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are now temples of the Living God and know God’s words of revelation and have been given a Spirit of power to proclaim them.

Moses did not seek his own glory. He found no joy in being uniquely blessed. He caught a glimpse of the wonderment if only God would pour out His Spirit upon all men. Moses didn’t seek to be selfish with His Lord, rather he wished that all knew Him as he did. Moses was not threatened by anyone else, but rather hoped for the day when it wasn’t just two others, but the multitudes declaring God’s word.

Are you sharing your Jesus? Or are you better than those around you because you have Him and no one else does? Take a lesson from the most humble man on the earth at the time and share Jesus with a friend.