26 September 2021

26 September 2021

And a young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them!’ 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!’

Numbers 11:25-29, NRSV

During their time wandering in the desert, the people of Israel had many complaints and disagreements that needed to be resolved. Moses was advised to appoint elders to support him in this task and seventy men were duly enrolled for this task. However, for some unspecified reason, two of these men (Eldad and Medad) had not attended the Tent of Meeting with Moses and the others but had stayed in the camp and prophesied to the people. Joshua, Moses’ eventual successor, thought this should be stopped and must have been surprised at the response Moses gave. For Moses, the spirit of the Lord was not something to be contained but to be welcomed wherever it was found.

 

    • Why do you think Joshua wanted Eldad and Medad to be silenced?
    • Have you ever been surprised at hearing God’s word from an unexpected source?

Be open today to how God comes to you in the people you encounter.

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