Numbers 11:25-29

Trust in God’s Reach…

At first it may seem that Eldad and Medad are just the names of two of the elders mentioned in chapter 11, verses 25-29 of the Book of Numbers. However, while it may be tempting to readily move past them and keep reading on the way to the Gospel for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, it’s worth pausing to consider this scene some more.

While all the other elders are gathered at the tent to receive the spirit of the Lord and begin to prophesy, Eldad and Medad are back at the camp. Despite not being at the “right place, at the right time,” at least not physically, they are still included by God, the Spirit is bestowed upon them, and they begin to prophesy.

This is key. Eldad and Medad receive the spirit and prophesy right where they are, giving testimony to the fact that the grace of God is not limited and that there is more than one way, more than one place, to be gathered before the Lord. Reflect on this truth: regardless of where we are, all of us are always within reach of God’s grace. What’s significant… what matters most, is whether we are open to receiving the grace of God, however it is presented.

Continuing to look more closely at this passage, Eldad, whose name means “Love of God”, and Medad, whose name means “Love,” have been called. Their names are known to God. All that is required of them, and us, is not to meet the expectations of others, or to hurry up over to the meeting place to join their fellow elders, but rather, to simply be where they are and be willing to be whom they were created to be. That is, to not only embrace their gifts with an open heart and mind, but also to allow themselves to be inspired by the Spirit of the Lord as to how to use and share them.

Eldad and Medad numbered among many. It’s not only interesting, but also a simple imperative by which to live—Love of God, Love.

The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the Lord bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!
Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!” – Numbers 11:25-29

This Alone…

As a child, I remember being struck by the great change in Moses’ appearance at one point when he came down from the mountain. Moses, as portrayed by the actor Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, now had a face that was aglow and silver streaked hair. I recall watching intently and listening, wanting to know more about what had happened between him and God. It was clear that Moses’ experience was a pretty big deal, changing not only his appearance, but also seemingly strengthening his resolve and helping him to journey onward once more.

In the Book of Numbers (chapter 11, verses 25-29), it is written that the Lord imparted some of the spirit that had been given to Moses unto a number of others, seventy elders to be exact. Just verses before that, Moses had asked and questioned the Lord about the current situation. He also expressed his thoughts and feelings regarding the struggle to lead the people through the wilderness while trying to deal with their growing unhappiness. In verse 11, Moses said to the Lord, “I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me.”

The Lord hears Moses and responds, lessening the weight Moses feels upon his shoulders, reminding him that he is not alone, and providing what he needs to continue his part in carrying out God’s will. Eldad and Medad, who we are told were on the list of the seventy elders, but who were not in the group that had gathered to receive the spirit, also began prophesying. When this is reported to Moses, Joshua, his “assistant,” is of the mind that Eldad and Medad must be stopped at once. However, Moses, his heart fixed on God’s will and his desire to cooperate with it steady and strong, is not only able to see the truth, but also to speak it.

We are all God’s people… all called to be prophets… all called to participate in carrying out, and cooperating with, God’s will.

Moses believed and bought into God’s grace, placing it, rightfully, above human judgment and understanding. He took the leap. Do we?

Knock, and He’ll open the door
Vanish, and He’ll make you shine like the sun
Fall, and He’ll raise you to the heavens
Become nothing, and He’ll turn you into everything. – Rumi

ThisAlone

The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!” – Numbers 11:25-29