“And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.”
Context: Numbers 11 provides an account of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. In this particular passage, Moses is leading the people, and they are in the desert of Sinai.
The Spirit of God: Prior to verse 27, Moses had been burdened with the responsibility of leading and judging the entire nation of Israel. In response to Moses’ request for assistance, God instructed him to gather seventy elders from among the people to share in the burden of leadership (Numbers 11:16-17). The Lord promised to take some of the Spirit that was upon Moses and place it upon these elders (Numbers 11:17). As the Spirit came upon them, they prophesied.
Eldad and Medad: In verse 26, we learn that the seventy elders assembled at the tabernacle, and the Spirit rested upon them. However, two men named Eldad and Medad did not gather with the rest of the elders but remained in the camp. Despite not being present at the tabernacle, the Spirit of God still came upon them, and they began to prophesy.
The Young Man’s Report: As Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, a young man noticed their actions and immediately ran to inform Moses. It’s unclear from the text what motivated the young man to report this information, but he likely felt that this was something Moses needed to know.
Moses’ Response: The young man’s report reached Moses, and in verse 29, Joshua, Moses’ assistant, spoke up, suggesting that Eldad and Medad be restrained. Joshua saw their prophesying as a potential threat to Moses’ authority. However, Moses responded in verse 29, saying, “Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”
Moses’ Desire: Moses demonstrated a humble and inclusive spirit in his response. He did not view the prophesying of Eldad and Medad as a challenge to his authority or as a negative occurrence. Instead, he desired that all the people of Israel would experience the prophetic anointing and have the Spirit of God upon them. Moses understood that the work of leading and judging the nation was too great for him alone, and he longed for others to share in this responsibility.
Lessons and Applications:
- Humility in leadership: Moses exhibited humility and a lack of envy when Eldad and Medad prophesied. He recognized that God’s work is not limited to a single individual but can be shared by many. Leaders should be willing to embrace and encourage the gifts and contributions of others.
- God’s inclusive nature: God’s Spirit is not limited to a select few but can rest upon anyone according to His will. Eldad and Medad’s prophesying while outside the tabernacle reveals God’s desire to work beyond prescribed boundaries and in unexpected ways.
- The value of unity: Although Eldad and Medad prophesied separately from the seventy elders, their actions did not cause division or conflict. Moses’ response highlighted the importance of unity and the need for collaboration among God’s people.
This Bible study explores the account of Eldad and Medad’s prophesying, emphasizing the lessons of humility, inclusiveness, and unity that can be gleaned from Moses’ response.
