Numbers 11:29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” 30 And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel. (NKJV)
This passage comes from when the nation of Israel has just recently been delivered from bondage in Egypt by God through great and miraculous signs. God has also provided everything they need for life in the wilderness until they enter the promised land. However, as if they suffered from selective amnesia they begin to complain to Moses about God's provision and even suggest they would be better off back in Egypt!
Moses feels the strain as he appears to be the only faithful one in the camp and calls out to God for help. This brings up some questions - Why is Moses faithful while others rebel? How can God bring help for Moses in leading this group?
In order to help Moses restore order to the camp God tells Moses to pick seventy elders (Num. 11:16), we might think they are picked because they are good/equipped to help, but God makes it clear how they will become able to help: "I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and put the same on them" (Num. 11:17).
It is Joshua seeing two of these elders prophesying in the Spirit that leads to the interchange between Moses and Joshua in the passage above (Num. 11:29-30). Moses clearly recognizes the the blessing of having the Spirit upon God's people. It is also obvious that this special work of the Spirit was an uncommon occurrence and can surmise it is part of why Israel's history is one of almost constant rebellion.
As much as we like to make heroes of OT servants of God, and it is right to affirm their faithfulness under God's call/empowerment, it is quite clear that it is the presence of the Holy Spirit as given by God that sets Moses apart. This is consistent as we see other OT prophets and kings, like David having the Spirit upon them in a special way.
The contrast between what OT Israel had of the Spirit's work and what we have in Christ should cause us to cut them some slack and be very thankful for the blessing of the Holy Spirit in us!
Now for those who are God's people in Christ -
Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)
We are all permanently sealed for and guaranteed our inheritance because of the Holy Spirit in us!
1 Cor. 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)
Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)
We are all empowered to live in ongoing hope through the Spirit in us!
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)
We are all empowered for God's service by the Holy Spirit in us!
If we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ -
Oh how blessed we are to have the Spirit in us!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
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