Instruction
Scripture: Numbers11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
The Book of Numbers takes up the story of the Israelites as
they wandered in the wilderness after God rescued them and brought them through
the Red Sea and into the wilderness. God had already provided manna and quail
for the people to have food to eat, but the people longed for the food they ate
in Egypt. It was as if they had forgotten that they were in slavery in Egypt!
Their complaint led Moses to come before the Lord and ask Him to provide for
His people. God’s response was to appoint more leaders for Israel and to place
His Spirit upon them. The main point of this reading for us is not the
complaining of the Israelites, although there are lessons for us to learn
there. The main point is that in the end when Moses said he wished that all
God’s people were prophets and that they all had God’s Spirit because this is
truly what God has done.
Teaching
The people were looking to Moses for more than he could
provide. Moses understood something about his leadership, though. It was not he
who was leading Israel in the wilderness; it was God. God graciously provided
other leaders for the Israelites by placing His Spirit on them. These leaders
prophesied, and the prophesy was
evidence to those who saw this happen that God had indeed appointed these
people, and that His Spirit was upon them. It was, therefore, the Spirit that
led the people through these men.
Life
One of the amazing things about this text is how Moses
wishes for all of God’s people to have God’s Spirit on them. In Christ, this is
exactly what has happened. All Christians have had the Spirit of God poured out
on them in their baptism. God continues to place His Spirit on us through the
reading and hearing of His Word. This gives us permission to prophesy – that is
to speak God’s Word to others, so that they too might receive the Holy Spirit
and have the faith that brings us salvation.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction, Thanksgiving, Confession, and Petition.
O God, when the Israelites complained in the wilderness and
wanted to return to Egypt and slavery, Your servant Moses despaired and threw
himself and his people on Your mercy. You provided for them in a most
unexpected way: You put Your Spirit on more people that that they might join in
leading Your people by the power of that Spirit.
We thank You that today You have given Your Holy Spirit to
all of Your people and that we can be confident that You will lead us to walk
in Your ways, and that You guide us to help others hear Your Word and come to
faith in You. And we thank You for Moses’ gentle humility that we may imitate
him and not become jealous of those who speak on Your behalf.
Forgive us, Father, for seeking guidance from other places
and for longing to return to our own slavery to sin and death. We know that we
think nostalgically about the sins of our youth sometime.
Lord, grant that Your Spirit will continue to rest upon Your
people and especially upon our pastors and leaders. Guide all of us to live for
the benefit of others and let Your Spirit lead us all. Amen.
Comments