Numbers 11:27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
After the children of Israel complained, then Moses complained. He said, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.” (Number 11:14) So the Lord had mercy on Moses and told him to gather seventy men of the elders of Israel and bring them into the tabernacle that they may stand with him. And they would bear the burden of the people with him, that he bear it not alone.
Moses chose out seventy men, for God said he’d talk with them at the tabernacle. He gathered them and set them about the tabernacle.
Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
This looks a lot like Pentecost when they were all in one accord in one place, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire that sat upon each of them. The Bible says they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Peter later called it prophesying.
It looks like Pentecost and sounds like Pentecost but there’s more going on this time around. To begin with, God is not exactly happy with them. God is fixing to deal with murmuring and complaining. He’s fixing to send a plague among the people for their complaining. They say, “Give us flesh!” So God is going to give them flesh out their nostrils. So this thing that God is doing for Moses complaint is not clear to be a bless’n or a lesson.
But in the midst of all this, before the plague comes in, and as God is taking the spirit on Moses and putting that same spirit unto the seventy elders, the Bible says “And there went forth a wind from the LORD.” (Number 11:31) So even more so, this whole picture looks like Pentecost. The funny thing is that there’s two guys that don’t seem to be in one accord with the other 68 chosen elders.
Eldad and Medad are not at the tabernacle. The bible doesn’t say why; but we can deduce that they were not there because they didn’t feel like they should be there. In other words, they thought that they weren’t fit; that something was not right with them; they were unclean and should not be at the tabernacle. They didn’t deem themselves worthy for the blessing that God was about to give. So they were no-shows.
But God gave them also that spirit, and they prophesied in the camp away from the other 68. Joshua told Moses to forbid them. But Moses says, “Would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” I read this and my mind goes to Pentecost and can’t help but think, “Yes. God would.” Peter said on that great day:
Acts 2:17,18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Yes. God would. However, the interesting thing we see is when the 68 elders and Moses stopped what they were doing and went into the camp, that is actually when the wind blew.
Number 11:30,31 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. And there went forth a wind from the LORD
Eldad and Medad, the ones that thought themselves unworthy, were the two elders that prophesied as the wind from the LORD went forth. Jesus said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
This Christmas, we gather together and tell the story of Jesus one more time. Loved ones and friends, who normally don’t come, will come to church and hear the story of Jesus one more time. They’ll hear how he came into this world in a stable. He died on a cross, was buried, and the third day raised from dead. They’ll hear about the greatest gift ever given; how that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
They’ll come into our churches lost and without God, and unless something happens, they’ll leave lost and without God. O How we need the wind of God to come forth!
Luke 24:47-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
But tarry. We will witness of these things this Christmas morning, Lord willing. But neglect not the promise of our Father, the enduing of power from on high; the power of the the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead.
1 Corinthians 2:4,5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Christmas Eve, 2000 years ago, a young virgin travailed with child. She was in pain. She was in labor. All her mind was upon giving birth. Perhaps this Christmas Eve, there’s some soul near a new birth. Perhaps the Holy Ghost tonight, this very minute, travails with child. The Word of God had conceived many months ago, and now that soul is ready to be delivered. Born again.
That wind came into the camp as Eldad and Medad prophesied. What came with the wind was quail, a bunch of quail. But with that quail, plague. Death came with that wind. When someone gets saved, there is a death and a resurrection.
Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Would you tarry a little while this Christmas Eve. Tarry tonight in prayer for tomorrow morning’s service. Pray the wind of God would come forth.
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