Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 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.

Devotion based on Numbers 11:24,25

Moses was a humble, faithful leader of God’s people. As an 80-year-old man, he served with courage and patience, leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. The Israelites numbered about two million people. God was gracious and provided for their needs on the journey. On a daily basis, he miraculously provided a special food they called “manna.” But the people God fed with this food got fed up with it and ungratefully complained that it wasn’t enough. It was almost too much for Moses. He got very frustrated and prayed to the Lord, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.”

The Lord provided help. Seventy elders were chosen to assist Moses. The Lord equipped these elders for service by putting his Holy Spirit on them. The Spirit gave them the gifts they needed to accomplish the service for which they were appointed.

The Lord gives us his Spirit, too. The Holy Spirit comes to us through the gospel. He uses the good news of Jesus to give us life and salvation. God the Holy Spirit also equips us for the Lord’s service of leading people from the slavery of sin to the promised home of heaven. With gratefulness for all the blessings in Jesus, we gladly serve the Lord in this most important work.

Watch for opportunities that you have in your family, at work, or through your church to serve the Lord and accomplish his work. Equipped by the Holy Spirit, be confident that the Lord can use you to fulfill his will.

Prayer: