Christian Living

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It is amazing that our Creator has chosen to make various species of rose and plants life arrayed in multiple colours! He made sea creatures, land animals and birds distinct and numerous in species and colours. He made man, and from one man came peoples and nations, with unique abilities distinct in recognition - not one finger or foot prints are the same and to top it all before we were born He knew what our function in this world would be. It’s a shame we want to put everyone in the same box, when God didn’t. To have expectation of others and respond negatively when they don’t we are putting God in a box.

It is so easy to compartmentalise everything, and put them in neat sections according to our finite capabilities of reasoning, of what we perceive and understand. The Psalmist says we should not lean on our own understanding but in all our ways we should acknowledge that God is infinite and both sees and knows the whole picture. If we go on the premise of God as the master builder, who knows the end from the beginning there would be much freedom given to individual to function as God intended. The subsequent story highlights the point (Num 11:16-17 paraphrased).

“Moses,” said God, “Choose seventy men of the elders known by the people and held a position of authority; bring them to the tabernacle to serve with you. Then you will know without a doubt what I’m going to do. What will happen is this; I will put the same Spirit that is on you on them---.”

Before Moses chose the seventy elders he explained what God had told him. Moses assembled the elders before the people and positioned them around the tabernacle. And God did exactly what He said He would do; ‘the Lord came down in a cloud’ and spoke to him and took the same Spirit that was on Moses and placed them upon the elder, for His purpose. We are reminded that ‘God is Spirit,’ and has only one spirit, so the same Spirit on Moses was the same Spirit the elders received. Paul spoke of Moses – ‘they were all baptised into one spirit.’

God came down in a cloud, He spoke, they heard His voice, they definitely had an encounter with Him and there were no ifs or buts. The Spirit took hold of frail humanity and spoke through them and from that moment onwards they never ceased prophesying. (The Hebrew for the last clause (verse 25) possibly meant they prophesied and continued to do so). This portion of Scripture reminds me of the baptism of the Spirit and that it is God who gives His Spirit to us and not man; anyone in Christ has the same Spirit. We are vessels made into different shapes and sizes, and tool the analogy of the body, as Paul describes (1Cor 12) the various functions of each member of the body.

A typical example (see verse 25), Eldad and Medad were on the list of elders, the Bible says ‘they were among those listed,’ but for some unknown reasons known only to God, they stayed behind in the camp, instead of going outside to the tabernacle. The (same) Spirit was on them (although not in the normal position or of the place of recognition), nevertheless they too prophesied; but inside the camp. Not among the elders outside the tabernacle, that is, with the in groups; and they would definitely not appear or seem to be doing what is expected. Being an outsider, you’re instantly under suspicion; take courage, God doesn’t see you as an outsider as long as His Spirit is in you, and you are walking in obedience to His Word.

Eldad and Medad became an object of gossip – a young man, ‘the snoop’ looking for recognition ran to Moses, ‘your lordship, guess what? Two men are acting as though they are prophets;’
‘Who are they my son?’
‘You know, Eldad and Medad, they are prophesying in the camp.’
Joshua, the second in command, Moses’ assistant, objected, ‘who do they think they are, prophesying in the camp and not among those elders?’ “Moses my lord forbids them!”

Moses responded and asked Joshua a straightforward question that must have penetrated to the core; ‘are you really thinking about me or your own position’ – “Are you zealous for my sake?” A cry came from this godly man of God who was not thinking about his own ministry or his security. He was forward-thinking and had a generous spirit to see the people of God manifesting the gift given to them; he was not intimidated by others, that is, but desired to see everyone fulfilling their calling.

Moses’ perspective was, God is the giver and the gifts belong to Him. He had no fear of his own gifts or leadership being overtaken by others, so with confidence he could boldly say: “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” That’s including everyone, and not just a few. Strange, why did Moses and the elders returned to the camp? They must have gone to see what God was doing in those two men lives.

It doesn’t matter the position we hold, whether a position outside in our everyday job or a place of leadership in the church; if God has placed us in a position it is to fulfil His purpose. He alone has the timescale and no one could ever supersede that position until God says it’s time; this knowledge should give us a place of rest and trust in Him. Good leaders whether inside the church or outside, are vehicles to build strong team and their team build more team and the multiplication begins. A strong team can only be built on integrity and excellent character of its members. So we don’t put people in boxes because they don’t meet up to a certain criterion, we should make decisions base on what the Bible says. It also said, don’t lean on our own understanding but let it be according to God’s ruling.

Placing people in boxes according to our own perception normally ‘messes up people’s lives,’ and brings unnecessary pain. It is better to do what Moses did and abandon all traces of insecurity because our security is only found in God. This admonition is to those given custody of God’s people to manage, to be free to fulfil God’s order. Sometimes, your choice is not God’s choice. Eldad and Medad were neither, that young man or Joshua’s choice; yet God still poured out His Spirit on them, and they too prophesied inside the camp.

Emphasis, these men were in a different location from where the others were prophesying, strange, but it was God’s choice I believe allowed them to stay inside. Like that young man the John went to Jesus about others who were not in their own circle, expecting Jesus to object about others they perceived having their own healing campaign (see Mark 9:38-40). Another example in Acts, when God was preparing Peter to prepare the Gentiles to enter into salvation and the kingdom; He had to rebuke him to change his attitude, ‘do not call what I had cleansed common or unclean’ Acts 10). We all tend to be ruled by our own perception.

Without knowing there is a spirit in us that tends to control others; ‘if they don’t do what we do, we annihilate them and put a ‘not usable sign’ so what happens? Everyone follows the sign and treats them exactly as the sign indicates. God feels the pain for the outcast and the rejected; and He sees their love for Him and their longing to obey Him. He sees the unnecessary struggles and unnecessary pain of His people, who are shot at and wounded by the very friends who should love and protect them.

How much do we love and care for those whom God has placed in our care? Do we protect them? Love protects. Do we keep records of wrong as we would expect Jesus to keep of us? Love does not bear records of wrong. Love is kind and longsuffering and love rejoices with the truth, and it’s the truth which sets us free.

The truth is God’s Spirit and the same Spirit also dwells in the one whom we reject. Jesus said, if they are not with Me they are against Me, so if they are with Jesus they are meant to be treated as (a respectable member who has ongoing relationship with Jesus) fellow members. Many of us are in bondage today because we are not walking in love; we may go through the motions and have a level of success, but on that day they will be measured rubbish – nothing – zero. Paul said, if we possess all the faith so that we could remove a mountains, give our bodies to be burnt, give to a million charities and work miracles; if they are not motivated by love we are just like a big gong in the sight of God and froth without substance. Love demonstrates not just in words, it’s a living organism that can be felt, ‘it’s not what’s in it for me, but it’s who can benefit by giving it.’

God is love. He loves us even before we were born, and He knew what He was in for when He chose us; yet He still chose. His expectation of us is just and right when He formed us. Our expectation for others is wrong because we don’t know them as God knows them. We expect them to fit into our mental mould and if they don’t measure up to our standards they are no use to us. The question resonate constantly, ‘Why do we hurt the ones who we are supposed to love?’ It is our perception of them and actions according to our own belief and not what Scripture says, we make our judgment. Let’s remind ourselves this article is based on two men who stayed in the camp, but the story is for all times and seasons.

God chose seventy elders and located them around the tabernacle, and placed His Spirit on them for His own choosing - they prophesied. He also chose two men on the list He intended to use, kept them inside the camp (different location) for His purpose, and placed His Spirit on them – they too prophesied. Who are we to tell God how to conduct His affairs? God does as He pleases. His love is without partiality our job is to work with God not against Him. We may ask, is it possible to work with God? Yes, it is possible when we allow His Spirit to form Jesus character in us, and that character is love.

Why labour on love? If that young man and Joshua were motivated by love they would rejoice to see those from among them prophesying as the seventy elders were. I know this a simplistic way to view the text (Num 11:24-30), but the essence of it I believe, portrays putting people in boxes, as we do in Christendom.

I know the Bible says test the spirit, we test the spirit behind performances; we observe character, integrity and willingness to be corrected, if correction is needed; and is done according to Scripture. When Jesus saves us His intentions are in totality. Restoration in mind, body soul and spirit; and that’s to build, not to break, giving room for all gifts and abilities, to be used in His body and to build the kingdom of God.

We are not called to mentor just a few of our prize picking but for all members of the body of Christ. Each member must know that they are valuable by being treated with respect, so that other members will follow, remember, the flock follows the leader.

To leaders, know your flock; know what their gifts and abilities are and allow them space and opportunities to use them as Moses did. Each one of Christ’s disciples and also members of the early Church, were given roles (evident or unassuming) according to their abilities not titles. They were not necessary but respect as Christ’s representatives within their particular role and according to the standard and criterion lay down for those roles

Throughout the years from time to time ‘revival fires’ springs up, and are springing up everywhere, with some impact, and as most forest fires do died down. But the long awaited revival to usher in the return of our saviour will only come, when the body of Jesus Christ is positioned in the Spirit of love. We must recognised that love is more than a soppy emotion to surface occasionally; but it stems from the very heart of God, and it’s most important (to the Godhead) that Jesus left two of the greatest commandments and engraved love within them.

Love brought Jesus to earth and it’s going to take that same love to manifest through His body the Church and draw Him like a magnet back to earth. Jesus is coming for a bride that is not tarnish by sin, whatever is not of faith is sin, when we put each others in boxes; we are disobeying God’s Word. So the Bible tells us to rise and shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord rises on any vessel that is available to Him, and they can be unlikely vessels in unlikely places.

So while awaiting Jesus’ return we need to view each others through His eyes, as Moses saw Eldad and Medad, as servants of God being used by Him Joshua and the young man did not see them as of the same camp but as outsiders.

So whatever we do don’t put God in a box He knows best.

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