Numbers 11:26 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. The people of Israel wanted meat to eat and were complaining about it to Moses. Moses was tired of their whining and complained about the burden of being responsible for all the people. God agreed and told him to gather together 70 elders who would share the burden with him. He did as God said, but two men didn’t make it to the meeting (maybe they had to stay in camp to “watch” the people). Interestingly, when God’s Spirit rested on the elders who had assembled, it also found the men who weren’t there and rested on them. They prophesied in the same manner as those who had met Moses to receive the responsibility of the people. Sometimes we’re not where we should be, but God can find us no matter where we are. And just because we’re left behind in camp doesn’t mean that God won’t use us. His Spirit found these two men and filled them, despite their location. Another interesting thing to point out in this story is that it’s about the people “lusting” for the things they had or the things that others had. Ultimately it made God mad, especially after all the things He’d done (like giving them manna and keeping them alive as they fled from Egypt), and He caused a plague to kill many of them. The other day some friends of mine were telling me about this home they had just purchased for an insanely small amount of money. And I admit, I was jealous. I would love to be able to have a place of my own, especially when the market it so low and home prices aren’t ridiculously unaffordable. It’s easy to get frustrated and lust after those things which aren’t mine. BUT, as I spoke my frustration to God, I remember all the ways I am incredibly blessed. I have a place to live that is comfortable and clean and affordable (free, which is all we really can afford until the boys get out of daycare). My mom’s generosity in this is amazing. And I remember that they are older than I am and have had more time to get life sorted out. They’re on a different path than I am as well. There’s a plan and a purpose for each thing in life. There are lessons to be learned at every stage along the way. I don’t want to forget the blessings God’s given me and to complain about the things I don’t have. Sometimes that’s hard, but I believe He understands. I’m thankful that He’s so patient with me!
Matthew 13:57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” I wonder if the people in his hometown were jealous of Him? Here is says they were offended that Jesus could teach so well. Did they feel like He was acting “above his station”? How often does my jealousy or resentment keep me from doing things or believing a point that Jesus made? For example, I know Jesus can do things but I often have a hard time believing that He will do it for me. I see how He’s done it for others, but when I compare what they have with what I perceive that I have, I come up short. And since I don’t see that He’s done it for me, I have a hard time believing that He will do it for me. Even if He’s promised in His Word. Does that make sense? This is especially prevalent when it comes to money and God’s promises about that. I read Robert Morris’ book The Blessed Life when my church did a series on him and I struggled to believe that God would follow through on the promises that Robert Morris brings up in his book (they’re in the Bible, but Morris points to them for support of his points). I wonder if part of my struggle is that I read about all the stories he tells of times when God has followed through in amazing ways, but I fail to see God’s hand working in similar ways in my life (even though He’s working in more subtle ways, I think). So in my jealousy of their stories I disbelieve or discount that Jesus will do what He says He’ll do and then that hinders God’s work in me and in my life. That’s kind of confusing, but it makes me think…. On a completely unrelated string… It mentions Jesus 4 brothers and an unspecified number of sisters. That means that Mary must have had at least 7 children (including Jesus)! I always thought of her as having a couple of children and that’s it, but she had a lot of children! Can you imagine being Jesus’ sibling?! “James, why can’t you be perfect like Jesus?” LOL! I’m not sure if that would have been amazing or frustrating.