Originally Published in 1909
WHEN Moses complained to the Lord on account of Israel murmuring at Taberah, and confessed that the burden of the people was too heavy for him, the Lord told him to gather seventy men of the elders, and that He would give them the Spirit, who rested upon himself, so that they might bear the burden with him. When it was done the elders prophesied. Two of the seventy had not gone outside of the camp to the tabernacle, Eldad and Medad, but they also prophesied in the camp. Then Joshua rushed up to Moses and informed him of this fact, adding a demand, "My lord Moses, forbid them." Moses answered him, "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" (Num. 11:1-29).
Moses knew that the only remedy for the unbelieving and complaining people was the Spirit of God. But in his wish he expressed something more. It becomes in later prophecy a definite promise for the nation God has chosen as His earthly people, that they were to receive the Holy Spirit and that the whole nation should be Spirit-filled. In Exodus 19:5-6 the calling of Israel is stated. They are to be, says the Lord, "A peculiar treasure unto Me (see Matt. 13:44) above all people, for all the earth is Mine. And ye shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." In Deut. vii:6 we read, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." Two things are necessary for the realization of this calling, redemption and the Holy Spirit. It will be noticed that the calling stated in the nineteenth chapter of Exodus is conditional. It is in connection with the inauguration of the law-covenant. We read, "If ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be to Me a peculiar treasure." As they were uncircumcised in their hearts, they could not keep His covenants nor walk in His ways as a nation. If their calling is to be realized they must have a circumcised heart (Deut. 30:6), in other words, be born again, which is the result of redemption and the Spirit of God. The law covenant says nothing about redemption and a circumcised heart, because by the works of the law no one can be justified, nor receive the blessings of redemption. Neither does the law covenant promise to him who keeps the law the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Gal. 3:2).
WHEN Moses complained to the Lord on account of Israel murmuring at Taberah, and confessed that the burden of the people was too heavy for him, the Lord told him to gather seventy men of the elders, and that He would give them the Spirit, who rested upon himself, so that they might bear the burden with him. When it was done the elders prophesied. Two of the seventy had not gone outside of the camp to the tabernacle, Eldad and Medad, but they also prophesied in the camp. Then Joshua rushed up to Moses and informed him of this fact, adding a demand, "My lord Moses, forbid them." Moses answered him, "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" (Num. 11:1-29).
Moses knew that the only remedy for the unbelieving and complaining people was the Spirit of God. But in his wish he expressed something more. It becomes in later prophecy a definite promise for the nation God has chosen as His earthly people, that they were to receive the Holy Spirit and that the whole nation should be Spirit-filled. In Exodus 19:5-6 the calling of Israel is stated. They are to be, says the Lord, "A peculiar treasure unto Me (see Matt. 13:44) above all people, for all the earth is Mine. And ye shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." In Deut. vii:6 we read, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." Two things are necessary for the realization of this calling, redemption and the Holy Spirit. It will be noticed that the calling stated in the nineteenth chapter of Exodus is conditional. It is in connection with the inauguration of the law-covenant. We read, "If ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be to Me a peculiar treasure." As they were uncircumcised in their hearts, they could not keep His covenants nor walk in His ways as a nation. If their calling is to be realized they must have a circumcised heart (Deut. 30:6), in other words, be born again, which is the result of redemption and the Spirit of God. The law covenant says nothing about redemption and a circumcised heart, because by the works of the law no one can be justified, nor receive the blessings of redemption. Neither does the law covenant promise to him who keeps the law the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Gal. 3:2).
