Q2. The 70 Elders

[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

[BeeDee]

When God’sSpirit falls on the 70 they become prophets tepararily to assist Moses.  Moses wished that the Spirit of God would come on all God’s people so that they would all be of one accord and he would not find leading them so difficult.

[dgshiner]

When God’s spirit is allowed in us it changes our thinking from self, to being used by GOD. Our heart and motives or those of God’s character, we seek His approval, it helps us to discern the evil, that is around us and gives us an alternative to not be afraid,

It also was mercy showned to others as well as Moses and they too had to bear some burdens of others they were complaining to Moses so they also got a share of what Moses had to endure 

[Janine]

The Spirit of God is put upon them which gives them what they need to lead the people.

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them?

They prophesied but only this one time. It was a deliberate action that the Holy Spirit convicted them all to do, showing for the Israelites and for us today how much the Holy Spirit can help us.

[Lynette Palmer]

In order for the elders to be able to bear the burdens of the people they had to have special skills to facilitate understanding, and execute fair judgement. So this, they would not be in a position to do, without the divine assistance which is given to them when the Spirit of God descends on them.  So God sent His Spirit on them as He had with Moses to enable them to be efficient helpers to Moses.

Moses desired that all men would have the Spirit of God. This would then make us all have a deeper relationship with God, so we would seek God's direction instead of making our own ever so wrong decisions.

One thing that struck me though is the other 2 elders who weren't with the 70 who at the same prophesied elsewhere. It gives me an understanding of what is meant by  the unity of God's children  and  about us all being one body and sharing  in the same or One  Spirit. 

[Rev. Michael]

Moses wanted the Spirit on all so that they would be united as one in all they do. This would lead to a more profound relationship with God while allowing God to lead them

[Uncle Dave]

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people?

It was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enabled the 70 Elders to lead the people.

When the Holy Spirit came upon them, they began to prophecy.

Moses would have loved for the Holy Spirit to have come upon all the people because it might have stopped them from complaining so much about how they had it better in Egypt and doing things that made God so unhappy. They were fearful about entering the land they left Egypt for when they finally were supposed to enter. They practiced idolatry, they went so far as to get Moses in trouble with God when he used his staff to beat the rock to get water out of it. All in all, the Israelites were a whiny, ungrateful people which Moses had to contend with.

[JoeyFelipe]

On 7/23/2018 at 8:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people?

Answer: The Holy Spirit indwelling enables the 70 elders to lead the people.

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them?

Answer: They prophesy and able to lead the people.

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

Answer: So that the burden will be distributed to everyone and the task will be easier and lesser. This will also make everyone's relationship with God deeper & stronger and will make them mature enough not to complain but will always seek God's will and wisdom.

 

[Hrvysmth]

Note that the Lord met the need of His dear servant Moses (Numbers 11:16-17). The Lord instructed Moses to bring seventy elders to the Tabernacle. God promised to anoint the elders with His Spirit, with the very same Spirit He had given to Moses. The elders would help carry the burden of the people, help deal with the problems of the people. As always, God met the desperate need of His dear servant. God had earlier appointed some leaders to help Moses in the administrative duties of the people (Exodus 18:13f); now God was appointing seventy elders to help His dear servant in the spiritual ministry of the people (cp. Exodus 24:9). The intense pressure and distress of Moses was being relieved by the Lord. The enormous weight of the ministry that Moses was sensing was being lifted. As stated, God was meeting the need of His dear servant.

[Heatherly]

I agree with the answers but I also ask myself, why do we, who have the Holy Spirit in us through being Christ and through Jesus, why do we still sometimes complain or don't have answers?

[Mars Eve]

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people?

When the Spirit was upon the 70, they spoke the message of God.
If there ever was a time that God's message was needed- is today!

Like Moses, I too, " I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!(NIV)" 
My prayer is to speak the truths of God without my own agenda.
 

[kings_kid]

God took of the Spirit that was on Moses and put6 it upon the 70 elders.  They prophesied but never did so again.  Their
spirit was to enable them to help lead God's people. 

[efeklvn2]

From Numbers 11:6, I observe that these 70 selected persons were supposedly recognized elders and officers over the people. But in order for them to be empowered or equipped for godly leadership, the Holy Spirit must first come upon them. As good as charisma, or experience(age), or even intellect; these alone CANNOT equip a man for godly leadership or service. Such persons must needs be enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit, as was the case with the 70 elders.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they all began to prophesy; which simply means to speak not of one's self, but by the inspiration of God.

Finally, from Num 11:14, I observed that Moses voiced out that he alone was not capable of administering leadership or overseeing the affairs of God's people. Moses knew that if God Himself would lead all His people(by His Spirit), then the great burden that was upon him, as it were, would be lifted from him. And this would only be achieved when the Holy Spirit comes upon God's people individually.

[Jll83]

God takes "some" of the Holy Spirit to give to the Elders, so they can judge the people with wisdom. They prophesied once but their power was for a specific purpose. This transfer eases some of the burden on poor Moses who, understandably, felt overwhelmed by the responsibility to communicate God's directives to the people and act as judge when they had complaints -- which was often.

While Joshua was offended by the two Elders who prophesied but were absent from the tent during the transfer, Moses didn't see a problem. He understood God has no limits and will find people chosen to serve Him no matter where they are. Moses knew that if the Spirit resided in everyone, there would be precious few problems, as people would act with wisdom as they grew in relationship with God.

 

[tvt010]

The Holy Spirit was given to the 70 elders so they can help Moses with all  the burdens of the people in Israel. Carrying the burdens of other people can be very overwhelming, this is why we need to be in good relationship with God so He can help us face the burdens of others such as family, friend, coworkers and even Gods people.

When the Holy Spirit came upon them they were able to prophesied for a short time. God know whom He want to prophesied to His people continually. Having that relationship with God is so important during these days and time.

[Eilen]

The 70 elders were able to lead the people because they had received the Holy Spirit .

They were able to prophesy when they received the Holy Spirit and were able to help Moses to lead God's chosen people through the wilderness.

Moses longs for the Holy Spirit to come upon all of God’s people so that they can honor God, know that He is their Lord and Savior through whom all things are possible.

[Francesca]

God took a portion of the Holy Spirit from Moses and brushed it over the gathering of 70 elders so that they could prophesy and act as leaders of the Israelites.  Removing this portion from Moses did not diminish his powers;  it was an act of sharing.  By this gift the 70 elders were enriched in what they could accompish.

[KathySmith]

What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

What enabled the 70 Elders to lead the people was when God took some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the 70 Elders, so they could share the burden of the  people with Moses. 

The Elders began to prophesy when the Spirit rested on them. But they did not do so again.

Moses longed for the Spirit to come upon all God's people so all God's people would be prophets.

[sally607]

Q2. God enabled His spirit the Holy Spirit on the 70 Elders. He took it from Moses and put it on the Elders. Helping Moses out. 

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? They prophesied but they did not do it again.

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people? Moses was not jealous he wanted the Holy Spirit to come upon the people. It only happened to a few. Moses wanted to happen to everyone. 

[Karen11]

On 7/23/2018 at 1:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

The spirit.

They prophesied and help Mosses carry the burden.

So they all would follow God  and have that relationship.

[hanks]

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) 
What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? 
What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? 
Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people?
The 70 elders received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which gave them the know-how and ability to assist Moses in his work, enabling them to help lead the people, and to administer justice.
When the Holy Spirit came upon them they began to prophesy, but only for this one time. The whole community could then see that they possessed the same spiritual powers as Moses himself. The Lord also placed the Spirit on two men who were in the camp at the time the others received the Sprit, allowing the people to know that this was an act of God, since this did not occur in Moses’s presence.
Moses longed for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people, as this would make his job much easier. Joshua was upset about their receiving the Spirit. He perhaps thought that this miracle posed a threat to Moses’s leadership and he therefore wanted to restrain them. Moses however, had a deeper understanding of the situation. He could foresee how glorious it would be if the whole camp were walking in the Spirit. However, in the OT it was limited to certain men at certain times, but the prophets did foresee that day as Joel mentions in Joel 2:28: “God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh”.
 

[blezed]

(Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people?

The Lord took the Holy Spirit from Moses and put the Holy Spirit on the 70 Elders.

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them?

The 70 Elders began to prophesied.

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

Moses wanted all of God's people to be able to prophesied because felt that there was plenty of room for everyone to serve God.

[Travis81]

What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people?  "Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. 

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? "When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied"

Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people? "But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

In truth we can only speculate his longing, I'd like to think in context of the chapter and others, his longing is so that the Lord's will would be done (Numbers 11:16). 

"Numbers 11:24 …. "When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again". The 70 Elders did prophesy are they did when the Spirit initially rest upon them. As the lesson asserts we can believe the 70 primary call wasn't to become gifted prophets; rather, their gift was to assist with leading God's people and to administer justice. Similarly, in accordance to what many in our day assert the Gift (Ministry) of Helps and Administration. 1st Corinthians 12:7 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  rendered in another translation" Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."  One may have the gift of helps, while another the gift of administration, and so on.

 

[Mutsa]

The Spirit of God that came upon each one of the 70 Elders enables them to lead the people. It guides them in decision making and courage to deliver justice.

When the holy Spirit comes upon the elders they prophesy. Even two elders who were not present acquire the gift of prophecy.

Moses longs for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people because he would not have people complaining about meat and worshiping idols. The people with God’s Spirit would be disciplined, obedient and God-fearing.

[LissaR]

On 7/23/2018 at 12:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God’s people?

God put His Spirit upon the seventy elders to equip them and empower them to lead the people alongside Moses.  Without the Spirit, they would not have God's wisdom and they'd only be able to lead the people according to the flesh. 

Prophesying served as evidence that God's Spirit had entered them as He had Moses, so this drew the people's attention to them as leaders worthy of their reverence and obedience. 

The Bible doesn't tell us "why" Moses desired that the Spirit would come upon all God's people, but if it were me saying that, it would probably be because I already knew the joy of knowing God so much more deeply, and I would want that for all the people versus just for myself.  "The joy of the Lord is your strength" applies much earlier in scripture than when it appears in Nehemiah 8:10.  The joy of God's presence within Moses (by His Spirit) strengthened Moses during the trials of the wilderness, and it would have been much easier for the Israelites as well, had they the same joy within them.