Numbers 11:27-29

Two of these elders were not with the others at the tent of meeting, but the Spirit of God came on them as well and they also prophesied. This bothered some who were closest to Moses. Joshua, who had been Moses’ close aid since youth, said “Moses, my lord stop them!” Moses’ reply was the root of the promise found in Joel. In verses 27-29 he answered:

The incident shows that in this early period God's Spirit was not given to all His people in the way that it is now in His church. God was with His people, but His Spirit did not come on them or dwell on them, instead it was given to certain individuals for specific purposes.

In the Old Testament period, the Holy Spirit was not a common gift of God to all His people. So when Moses said, “I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them,” he was expressing a very are real need and longing, and it was not until God had spoken to the people through Joel that there was even a promise of such universal blessing.

Numbers 11:27-29

So that is what happened. These men received the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy, preach, and teach, and it was a sign to the people that they had received this gift and were therefore chosen by God to minister alongside Moses. Now two of these elders were not with the others at the tent of meeting, but the Spirit of God came upon them as well, and they also prophesized. This bothered some who were close to Moses, and we see this here in,

The incident demonstrates that in this early period, God's Spirit was not given to all His people in the same way as it is given to His church today. God was with His people and His Spirit came upon them, but did not dwell on them. Instead it came upon certain individuals for specific purposes, and sometimes it left them, as happened in the case of Saul.

Numbers 11:27-29

The incident shows that in this early period God’s Spirit was not given to all His people, Israel, in the way He does His church. God was with His people, but His Spirit did not come on them or dwell in them at that time except in specific and unique individuals. Instead, it came on certain individuals for specific purposes. Sometimes it left them, as happened in the case of Saul.

So when Moses said: “I yearn that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them,” he was expressing a very real need and longing for Israel and eventually for all humanity.

Numbers 11:16-30

Even Moses was getting worn down showing itself in failing to remember all that God had done to bring them to this point, with unlimited power. Although, we see in verses 16-17, God provided Moses with the help he needed to continue. Apparently, He saw in Moses’ almost overwhelming frustration and his own recognition of his failures to live up to his responsibilities (Numbers 11:15), and that he needed a way of escape, which God provided (Numbers 11:16-30).