Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Numbers 11

As Moses continues to feel the burden of being the prophet and leading the children of Israel -

"...Gather unto me aseventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and bofficers over them; and bring them unto the ctabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." (Old Testament | Numbers 11:16 - 17)

We learn that as these elders gathered -

"...the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease." (Old Testament | Numbers 11:25)

Not only did these brethren prophesy but there were also to other elders that did not gather -

"But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp." (Old Testament | Numbers 11:26)

What is interesting is that -

"...there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp." (Old Testament | Numbers 11:27)

To which Moses teaches a great principle -

"....Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Old Testament | Numbers 11:29)

Even though Moses was the prophet, it has always been given that others may receive direction and inspiration in their callings and personal lives. In contrast, there are those that have a tendency to believe that since the Spirit has fallen on them, that they are just as important and may counsel their leaders. This becomes apparent in the following chapter. Herein Miriam and Aaron question Moses worthiness. Miriam and Aaron may have received of the Spirit of prophecy, But Even though Moses may have had some weaknesses and have made some mistakes, it is not the place of others to speak evil of the Lord's annointed. What would be a reason the Lord had called Moses. We learn that -

"(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)" (Old Testament | Numbers 12:3)

Meekness, the opposite of pride, is one of the attributes of leadership in the Lord's kingdom. We learn that Miriam was chastised and forgiven as she became leprous and then was healed after seven days.

In summary, all men may receive of the Spirit and prophesy. But that does mean that they are called to lead others. That calling comes from God, through priesthood keys, which also requires meekness in doing the Lord's work.