Then the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone."
(Numbers 11.16-17, ESV)
Leadership is a spiritual task. Although there is a whole secular industry nowadays teaching leadership and management principles, the essence of good leadership – wisdom, humility, service, vision, and empowerment – are things which reside in the nature and heart of God. It stands to reason, then, that the calling of true leadership is amplified and empowered by the Spirit of God.
This happens a lot earlier in the Bible than we may think – before Gideon, Samson, or any of the judges, and well before King David. You have to go all the way back to Numbers 11 where, even more surprisingly, this gift of spiritual leadership was a corporate affair. No fewer than 70 people, along with Moses, were filled with the Spirit for the task of leadership.
The context? Moses is overwhelmed with the burden of leading God’s people. This has happened before, in Exodus 18, but this time, faced with another rebellion, Moses has had enough. ‘If this is how you’re going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me’ he says to God (Numbers 11.15, NIV), who wisely realises that this is a man at the end of his tether. So God provides Moses with 70 others to ‘share the burden of the people with you’ (verse 17, NIV).
What is fascinating is how God equips this leadership team: ‘I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them’ (verse 17, NIV). The work of God needs the Spirit of God. Almost uniquely in the Old Testament, here this work is shown to be something for many, not just for one.
It is not limited to place, either. Two of the new leaders, Eldad and Medad, don’t get the memo, and miss the meeting. Yet, amazingly, they begin to prophesy too, out in the camp (verse 26). In a lovely foreshadowing of the sort of conversation the disciples would have with Jesus, Joshua complains to Moses: ‘it’s just not cricket!’ And, like Jesus, Moses says, effectively: calm down: you should be pleased. I wish everyone could receive the Spirit and prophesy (see verse 29).
The applications of this story are numerous. We could reflect that leadership is a spiritual calling requiring spiritual equipping. We could rejoice that God is not limited to times and places, techniques and rituals. But let’s give thanks today that there is plenty enough of the Spirit to go round. You might feel like Eldad and Medad – always missing the memo – but God doesn’t forget you. He can bless you and use you anyway.
Thank you God that your Holy Spirit is not limited and there is always enough to go around. Thank you for Lord Jesus that your yoke is easy and your burden is light and you empower all of your people to do your work. Thank you that even when I feel like I've missed out on something you can bless me and use me for your glory anyway.
These Pentecost reflections were written by Revd Matt Trendall, a minister working in Milton Keynes. Check out his blog at www.dailyinspiration.org.uk.
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