Bible Study with Jairus – Numbers 11

睚鲁的圣经世界

Bible Study with Jairus – Numbers 11 This chapter begins with the Israelites complaining and arousing God’s anger against them, which resulted in some of the people being consumed by the fire of God. They also complained to Moses about how they craved the leeks, cucumbers, fish, and meat back in Egypt. God told Moses he would give the people meat, but Moses’ response was a bit confusing. He said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them and be enough for them?” (Numbers 11:21-22, ESV). A woman in our study said that Moses’ response was baffling. God had led the Israelites out of Egypt with many signs and wonders. Why would he doubt God’s ability and power to provide meat for the people? It didn’t seem to make sense. Moses even begged God to kill him because he was so overwhelmed by the demands of such a great number of people and didn’t want God to see his wretchedness. God told Moses to appoint seventy elders to help him. He took the spirit of Moses and put it upon the elders. The woman asking the original question also asked if the Spirit of God on Moses would be lessened if it was put on the seventy elders or would Moses possibly be estranged from God. After the Spirit of God was put on these elders, the Bible states that "As soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it." Why did they begin to prophesy, but then they didn’t do so anymore afterward? Later in the chapter, a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua, Moses’ assistant, wanted Moses to stop them. Why? Moses' response was very positive. He said: "Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (ESV, Numbers 11:29). In the end, God’s judgment came upon those who craved meat in the form of a plague. This raises another question. Since God proposed to give meat to the Israelites, why would He kill them? Isn't this entrapment? These are the questions that came up at the beginning of our Bible study. Read More: https://jbwm.org/