Q2. The 70 Elders

[Katy]

Q2. It was the presence of the Holy Spirit which enabled the 70 Elders to lead the people. Initially when the Holy Spirit came upon them they Prophesied, but it was just once. This was because God wanted them to lead His people by the power of the Holy Spirit, He did not want more prophets. Moses longs for the presence of the Holy Spirit to come upon everyone, so that everyone would be closer to God, and desire the things of God, rather that being occupied with worldly things.

[Dove81]

What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people?

They are led to lead the people because God has put His Holy Spirit in them. He rest in them changing their way of thinking, so that they may help Moses with council for the people of Israel.

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them?

They begin to prophesy. 

 

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

So that we can experience God in a more personal way. So we can go to Him directly and not a middle man, to have a more intimate relationship with Him. So that He dwells within us, which allows us to have His ways changing us so that we are more like Him.

 

[Niyonka16]

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? ANSWER: A traditional theophany of God comes down in a cloud. God to select 70 elders to receive some of the Holy Spirit conferred on him and to share with him the burden of ruling the people of Israel (he need not bear his burdens alone). The gift of spirit allows the elders to prophesy in a one-time occurrence.

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them?

ANSWER: In response to Moses’ prayer for help, God appoints seventy elders, putting upon them “some of the spirit” that was upon Moses. God appoints 70 elders (a large, full number) to assist in Moses’ prophetic work. Though their “ordination” is temporary, they are a sign that God’s leadership will endure even beyond Moses. God’s spirit goes where it wills! When the Holy Spirit came upon the seventy elders they prophesied.

Spiritual leadership is a grave responsibility, and God holds leaders to a higher standard (James 3:1). The seventy elders of Israel were granted wonderful privileges, but they also carried weighty responsibilities. When God entrusts us with spiritual leadership, we must remain humble, faithful, and obedient so that we will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master!” (Matthew 25:23).

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people? ANSWER: The people needed a power that worked from the inside-out. They needed new hearts, with God’s law written on the heart. So Moses longed for a day when “all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put (poured out) His Spirit on them!” This longing became the great hope of the Old Testament prophets longing and expectation for the coming Messianic age.

Jesus told His followers to gather together and wait for God to send His Holy Spirit to them. Then, when the Holy Spirit came down upon them, they all started prophesying and speaking in different languages! God was moving and He was doing a new thing! He was raising up leaders and elders to bring the people of the world back to Himself.

In protest, Joshua cried out, “Moses, make them stop!” Moses replies to Joshua: “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them all!” (Numbers 11:29). In other words: Do not quench the Spirit of God. Do not block the moving of the Lord. Do not silence the prophetic voices. Instead, may we always respond as Moses, not as Joshua, and make room for those prophetic voices that God is raising up in a new generation.

An important lesson for leaders of God’s people today. When God is doing a new thing, when He is moving in a new way, do not try to shut it down. When God is raising up new leaders and prophets for His Church, do not silence their voices. But when God’s Spirit is moving among His people, woe on us if we try to shut it down! Shame on us if we get in God’s way. Shame on us when we try to silence those who are speaking hard truths in the name of the Lord.

While there is much to glean from Moses's life, we can take away four primary lessons:

1. God cares for His people;
2. To lead wisely, you need to listen to and obey God;
3. God will equip you by His power; and
4. Moses’s life ultimately points us to Jesus.

These four lessons are just a small glimpse into what Moses’s life teaches us. Moses’s life and his story not only impacts us but points to Jesus.