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Two Israelite men, Eldad and Medad, were part of a group of seventy elders that God had directed Moses to assemble.(1) We don’t know from which tribe these men originated. There is no further information about them other than this one reference in Scripture. For some unknown reason these two men, who were probably brothers, had not gone to the Tabernacle with the rest of the elders; they were still in the camp. However, when the Holy Spirit came upon the elders, He came upon all of the elders, including these two who weren’t in the tabernacle. Oh, and isn’t it interesting that theirs are the only names we know out of that group of seventy? Perhaps the Lord has a lesson for us to learn from these two men.
Well, anyway, they, like the others, began to prophesy. They began to speak the truth of God, under the anointing of God, with the power of God. Up until this point, the people had only heard Moses and Aaron speak with that kind of anointing. Thus the people in the camp marveled at the boldness and authority with which these men spoke. Joshua, Moses’ protégé, who was a young man at the time, ran to tell Moses what was going on. He himself was probably one of the seventy elders.
He demanded that Moses order them to stop, having falsely assumed that only those gathered in the tabernacle were anointed to speak. He believed that only those under the direct purview of Moses were given that ability, and therefore allowing them to continue was an affront to Moses, the elders, and even the Lord. But Moses wisely saw that there was jealousy in Joshua’s motivation, albeit perhaps a jealousy on behalf of Moses; and he wisely squelched that jealousy right there.
First, Moses knew what we too must realize: God does not operate under our limitations or our restrictions. God’s Spirit will fill whomever He chooses, wherever He chooses, and whenever He chooses. In those days, before the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, God’s Spirit would fill those that He had anointed for a specific time and purpose. For example, these elders, many believe, were only able to speak with this kind of anointing for this one day. God’s Spirit did not remain upon them continuously, as He did on Moses.
Bear in mind that you and i, if we are followers of Jesus, have God’s Spirit dwelling within us. If we are saved, we are indwelt by His presence – He does not come and go from our lives. We are, however, to continuously seek the filling of His Spirit.(2) And our Lord commands us to be cleansed vessels suitable for His filling and His use.(3) We do not need to be in a specific place to be filled, but we must be in a specific posture—we must be postured as that cleansed vessel.
Though Eldad and Medad were not in the Tabernacle, their absence was apparently not a result of any disobedience on their part, because God would not have filled them with His Spirit if they had been postured in disobedience. Moses wisely understood that God had chosen them right where they were for that precise time.
The same principle holds true for us. If you know that God has led you to the place where you are right now, you can be assured that He has done so for His purpose. The fact that He has led you is indicative that He has called you and chosen you; and He will fill you with His Spirit, if you will remain in a cleansed and usable posture.
Second, Moses’ response to Joshua is also a lament. “I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!"(4) God desires to fill all of His people all of the time. He has saved us that we might be His instruments for the accomplishment of His purpose for eternity throughout this world at this time. It is not His intent or His plan that only some of us be filled with His Spirit; and it is not His plan that we only be filled with His Spirit some of the time.
Why is it that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the church? Why is it that 80% of the financial resources given for the Lord’s work are given by 20% of God’s people? Why are we, like the Israelites, content to sit in our camps and complain, when our Lord desires for us to be filled with His Spirit as champions of His Kingdom? The LORD desires to put His Spirit upon us all, all the time.
Third, Moses’ response to Joshua is a testimony and a testament to the fact that there is to be no jealousy among God’s people. God has chosen to accomplish His work through His people for His purpose and for His glory. We don’t write the script, we don’t direct the scene, and we don’t control the outcome. The only jealousy that needs to exist within the body of Christ is an increased jealousy for the glory of God—a passion that nothing and no one act in any manner that would distract or detract from His glory.
Today, no matter where you are physically, you are His tabernacle—His earthly dwelling place. He desires for you to be filled with His Spirit. Let’s learn the lesson from Eldad and Medad, no matter where we are, and remain in a posture that we are fillable. And, oh yes, it will be conspicuous to those around us!
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You can read about Eldad and Medad in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Numbers.
This post is taken from chapter 13 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.
(1) Numbers 11:26-29 (NLT)
Two men, Eldad and Medad, were still in the camp when the Spirit rested upon them. They were listed among the leaders but had not gone out to the Tabernacle, so they prophesied there in the camp. A young man ran and reported to Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!" Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' personal assistant since his youth, protested, "Moses, my master, make them stop!" But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!"
(2) Ephesians 5:18
(3) 2 Timothy 2:21
(4) Numbers 11:29 (NLT)
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