 |
| Numbers 11:16-30 |
Moses had just been dealing with the people complaining about the manna and sorrowing over the foods of their captivity. Moses was undone and overwhelmed by their complaining and he in turn complained to God. God, of course, was gracious and already had a plan in place to remedy Moses’s issue. He told Moses to gather seventy of the elders and bring them to Him and he obeyed.
Moses took the group of elders to meet with God. “Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to [Moses], and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again” (Numbers 11:25). However, when they went up to meet with the Lord God, “two men had remained in the camp . . . and the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp” (Numbers 11:26).
These men did not go with the group as they were called to do. They disobeyed for whatever reason. Maybe they were afraid. Maybe they did not believe they were worthy of such a high honor. Maybe they did not want to take on the responsibility they had seen Moses living under for so long. Maybe they just didn’t get it. Whatever the reason was for them to not join the others it did not matter. What mattered was the Spirit came upon them even in the camp; even though they did not obey to go up with Moses, they still received the Spirit and the call was still upon them.
Joshua wanted Moses to forbid them, but Moses’ heart’s desire was for all of God’s children to have the Spirit and prophesy. Just like in the New Testament when one who was not with Jesus’ disciples was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They wanted to forbid him, too, but Jesus’ answer was, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side” (Mark 9:39-40).
Think of Jonah and his call to Nineveh. He ran off in the opposite direction and was swallowed by a great fish! He found repentance in the belly of the deep and followed the call upon his life. He could not escape his call even when he tried with great effort to make it go away. God provided him a way back and a way forward. (Jonah)
Paul tells us, “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). It doesn’t matter if you are left behind the main group; it doesn’t matter if you don’t believe you are worthy of it. It does not matter if you are working outside of the inner circle or if you travel in the opposite direction for a season. The gifts and calling of God will find you.
Consider this: if you are a true Christ follower and your heart’s desire is to please Him and serve Him in His kingdom realm, why are you so worried you have missed your chance? Why are you so concerned with missing it? missing Him? If He can find two guys milling about the entire congregation of Israel and drop the Spirit upon them, can He not also find you where you are at? If He can move through a man not in the circle of Jesus’ disciples, can He not move in and through you? If He can chase Jonah down and put him back on the path of obedience, can He not walk with you as you are walking with and seeking Him? Of course He can. He knows His gifts and calling for you are irrevocable and He is faithful to complete the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6).
Take a deep breath and let this truth sink all they way down into the marrow of your spirit and soul. Know in your knower, He is on your side. He has for you a future hoped for (Jeremiah 29:11). You cannot outrun, escape, or miss your calling. He won’t let you. He cares too much about you and about those to whom He intends to send you. So relax and find your peace in Him once again. He cannot be unfaithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 10:23). He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).