Readings: Numbers 11:24-30 | Acts 2:1-21 | John 7:37-39
Text: Numbers 11:24-30
It takes some background to better appreciate the Old Testament lesson from Numbers 11. If Exodus gives us the grand design of God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt, leading, forgiving and eventually dwelling in their midst, Numbers is the day-to-day struggles of the Lord’s servant, Moses.
They’ve just set out from Mount Sinai, where many important events happened. “They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses.” (Num. 10:13) The tabernacle is dismantled and moved; the tribe of Judah leads the people behind the Ark of the Covenant. Moses triumphantly declared as the ark went out: “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” (Num. 10:35)
Everything seems to be on going well…until the very next chapter:
1And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down . . . 4Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” . . .
10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. 11Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”
This is what’s behind Moses’ exasperated response, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets,[1] that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” and the Scripture quoted by Peter, “even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit and they shall prophesy.”[2]
Indeed, Pentecost is an example of the Holy Spirit empowering the public Office of the Ministry. Yet, the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Christ. The Third Person of the Trinity calls us out of darkness into faith in Christ, and makes us alive through the Word. What does it mean to prophesy, though? It means to be know the mighty work of God and share it with others. To prophecy is not the same thing as to proclaim, which is why it wasn’t a mistake in the Scriptures that Moses’ sister, Miriam, is called a prophetess or later when Deborah is called the same [Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4].
The word itself, “to prophesy” in Hebrew means to “to cause to bubble up, hence to pour forth words abundantly”.[3] This gives some insight into why Jesus uses the picture He does speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 7: “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”[4] So, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets,[5] that the Lord would put His Spirit on them.” Indeed! The Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus is not for you alone, but also for everyone whom you meet in your life!
By that same Spirit He empowers us to live faithfully, each in our vocations (that is, where God has placed us in life). Each of us has been called in Baptism to be a child of God, holy and beloved. Each of us has received the Holy Spirit, and we each have a place in the Body of Christ and in the world. Hear what St. Paul says about this in Romans 12:
“3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:3-8)
Not everyone is a pastor, a man who publicly declares the Word of the Lord for the congregation. And that is perfectly fine! However, the Spirit does assign us each a measure of faith “for the common good.”[6] Every Christian is a bearer of God’s holy truth in word and deed.
As fathers and mothers, the Spirit gives the work of bringing up our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”[7]—showing them while they’re young how important the faith is (even when the unbelieving world offers so many other options), and continuing to support and admonish them in the Lord after they are grown. Sometimes this comes in the form of god-fearing grandparents who rise to the occasion when the parents can’t or won’t.
As husbands and wives, the Spirit leads them to pray for one another and share God’s Word of encouragement and comfort with each other in difficult times. In mixed-faith marriages, it’s much more difficult, but the Lord has shown His faithfulness again and again when the believing spouse shows the patient, loving heart of God to the one who doubts or does not believe, in hopes that they would believe.
As friends, the Spirit makes you prophets by the example of sharing the love which Christ has shown you, and by sharing what God has done and is doing whenever the occasion arises. Our Lord says, “14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15) How much more needed is this light, if you interact with people who are ensnared by the demonic forces that captivate the world. Do not shun or avoid the friend or family member who declares they were born in the wrong body. Be the light of Christ in their life, because if you leave them, where will they hear the truth?
As Christians of all ages living in society, the Spirit puts the Word in you, so that when the challenge comes against your Lord and His teaching, you would “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, being ready to give an answer for the reason for the hope within you.”[8]
It’s about prophesying where God places you. Although the Spirit calls a select few to public service in the Church, each Christian is called to everyday life! Now, everyday life may not sound very exciting. Yet, for you who believe, it is a life that is built on the sure foundation of God’s mighty works. The Holy Spirit is truly active bearing witness to the Kingdom of God and His gracious work in you. Rejoice in this, that God does amazing things through even you as you touch the lives of your family, friends, and coworkers.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
[1] Hebrew does not have the word “prophets” but says, “as these” referring to Eldad and Medad who, enabled by the Holy Spirit, were prophesying.
[2] Acts 1:18 [Joel 2:29]
[3] נָבָא (Gesenius, Wilhelm, and Samuel Prideaux Tregelles. Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2003.)
[4] John 7:38
[5] Hebrew does not have the word “prophets” but says, “as these” referring to Eldad and Medad who, enabled by the Holy Spirit, were prophesying.
[6] 1 Corinthians 12:7
[7] Ephesians 6:4, KJV
[8] 1 Peter 3:15
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