The Day of Pentecost (OTA)

Numbers 11:24-30

²⁴ So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

²⁶ Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” ²⁸ And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” ²⁹ But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” ³⁰ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Eldad and Medad are simply disobedient people who have been given a gift. They are selected for a task and a responsibility. They are supposed to go to the tent with Moses. they are supposed to receive the Holy Spirit and proclaim the truth among the other Elders. But they remain at their own tent. God still divides the Spirit and opens their mouth to proclaim the message he wants prophesied.

You will note that the text does not tell us what was prophesied. The text only makes it clear that all of these were prophesying things. I have often wondered what they prophesied. Was this message not more important for people than just the seventy elders? Maybe this was a confidential message only for the leaders?

Are there some prophesies that are simply meant for individuals and not for others to know? There may be some truth to this. But Moses tells of his true hope, which might reflect a message that is meant for all people.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit divided himself and rested upon these disciples. They all were allowed to speak a true message of hope. Jesus Christ offers us this message of hope. And it is not just for churches on Sunday Mornings. It is a message that should be proclaimed even in the camp: Your Sins are Forgiven in Christ Jesus.