Numbers 11:27

Context of Numbers 11:27

This verse comes during a challenging period for the Israelites in the wilderness. After complaining bitterly about their diet of manna and longing for the food of Egypt, Moses became overwhelmed with the immense burden of leading such a discontented people. In response, God instructed Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel, promising to take some of the Spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon them, so they could help bear the burden of the people (Numbers 11:17). In Numbers 11:25, the Spirit rested upon these seventy elders, and they began to prophesy.

Numbers 11:27 specifically highlights Eldad and Medad, two of the appointed elders, who for some reason did not go out to the Tabernacle with the others but remained in the camp. Despite their physical distance from the central gathering, the Spirit of God still rested upon them, and they too began to prophesy within the camp, causing a young man to report this unusual occurrence to Moses.

Key Themes

• The Sovereign Distribution of God's Spirit: This incident clearly demonstrates that God's Spirit is not confined to specific locations or human-ordained gatherings. Eldad and Medad received the Spirit and prophesied even while remaining in the camp, showing God's ability to work outside conventional boundaries.
• Expansion of Prophetic Gift: The event signifies a broader outpouring of God's Spirit beyond just Moses. It foreshadows a time when the Spirit would be more widely distributed among God's people, a desire Moses himself expresses in Numbers 11:29.
• Divine Empowerment for Leadership: The Spirit enabled these elders, including Eldad and Medad, to share the burden of leadership with Moses, indicating that true spiritual authority and ability come from God's empowering presence.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "prophesy" here translates the Hebrew word naba (נָבָא). In this context, it doesn't primarily mean foretelling the future, but rather speaking under divine inspiration, often in ecstatic utterances, praise, or declaring God's truth. It signifies a direct communication or influence from God, empowering the speaker with a divine message or expression, similar to the prophetic activity seen elsewhere in the Old Testament, such as with Saul's early encounters with prophets.

Practical Application

Numbers 11:27 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

• God is Not Limited: We should never limit God's ability to work or empower individuals based on our preconceived notions of who should receive gifts or where spiritual activity should occur. God's Spirit moves as He wills.
• Encourage Spiritual Gifts: Rather than being threatened or suspicious when spiritual gifts manifest in unexpected ways or people, we should, like Moses, rejoice and encourage the work of God's Spirit. This event serves as a precursor to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh, as prophesied in Joel 2:28-29 and fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
• Humility in Leadership: Moses' subsequent response (in Numbers 11:29) to this news is a powerful example of humble, inclusive leadership, desiring that all God's people might be prophets and receive His Spirit.