G-d Chooses and Uses Who He Wills

Rabbi Ken Alpren Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D. 6/9/12 Numbers 11:11-15, ‘Moshe asked ADONAI, "Why are you treating your servant so badly? Why haven't I found favor in your sight, so that you put the burden of this entire people on me? 12 Did I conceive this people? Was I their father, so that you tell me, 'Carry them in your arms, like a nurse carrying a baby, to the land you swore to their ancestors?' 13 Where am I going to get meat to give to this entire people? - because they keep bothering me with their crying and saying, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I can't carry this entire people by myself alone - it's too much for me! 15 If you are going to treat me this way, then just kill me outright! - please, if you have any mercy toward me! -and don't let me go on being this miserable!" The Israelites were bored with G-d’s menu! They wanted something different and were complaining about was provided for them and reminiscing about Egypt. They thought the former days were better, but were they? We need to be careful to continue being grateful regardless of our circumstances because with ungratefulness comes darkened hearts. Romans 1:21, ‘because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened.’ G-d can do work in us through the mundane! This includes our every day lives, our jobs and our marriages. He tells us to be content through the mundane. Moshe wants to quit because he is fed up. Maybe he thought he was supposed to do it all himself. He was wrong because G-d responded by giving him help. Numbers 16:16-17, ‘ADONAI said to Moshe, "Bring me seventy of the leaders of Isra'el, people you recognize as leaders of the people and officers of theirs. Bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit which rests on you and put it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people along with you, so that you won't carry it yourself alone.’ The objective of leadership is not to make people dependent upon you, but to develop more leaders by giving them guidance and help. The L-rd instructs Moshe to choose seventy elders and that G-d will take some of the Spirit from Moshe and place it upon them. Regarding the Spirit or ‘Ruach’, the L-rd puts ‘'seem’, gives it ‘natan’ to the seventy and it rests ‘nuwach’ on them and then what happens? Numbers 11:25-26, ‘ADONAI came down in the cloud, spoke to him, took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied -then but not afterwards. 26 There were two men who stayed in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad, and the Spirit came to rest on them. They were among those listed to go out to the tent, but they hadn't done so, and they prophesied in the camp.’ The Hebrew word for prophesied is ‘nava'’. The meaning is authorized communication from G-d, pouring forth words, divine revelation, authorized spokesperson and power to communicate from G-d. It’s application can include speaking and managing people by communicating G-d’s words to them as well as speaking praise which would then counter the atmosphere of complaining. Two people of the seventy did not come to the tabernacle but remained in the camp and they still received the impartation of the Spirit as well as the manifestation of prophesying. Numbers 11:27-29, ‘A young man ran and told Moshe, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!" 28 Y'hoshua, the son of Nun, who from his youth up had been Moshe's assistant, answered, "My lord, Moshe, stop them!" 29 But Moshe replied, "Are you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of ADONAI's people were prophets! I wish ADONAI would put his Spirit on all of them!"’ Moshe rebuked Y’hoshua. Y’hoshua was exhibiting a spirit of exclusivity. A similar instance is recorded in Luke. Luke 9:49-50, ‘Yochanan responded, "Rabbi, we saw someone expelling demons in your name; and we stopped him because he doesn't follow you along with us.” Yochanan responded, "Rabbi, we saw someone expelling demons in your name; and we stopped him because he doesn't follow you along with us." 50 Yeshua said to him, "Don't stop such people, because whoever isn't against you is for you."’ G-d chooses and uses who He wills and it may be someone else and not you! Philippians 1:15-18, ‘True, some are proclaiming the Messiah out of jealousy and rivalry, but others are doing it in goodwill. 16 The latter act from love, aware that I am put where I am for defending the Good News; 17 while the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition, with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison. 18 But so what? All that matters is that in every way, whether honestly or in pretense, the Messiah is being proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.’ Trust G-d and let Him use who he wills and it really isn’t our business. Whatever our frustration we should give Him praise. We don’t need to try to control or limit G-d. He raises up and uses who He wills. Who are we to stand in the way of G-d? When those chosen to lead with Moshe received the Ruach and began to prophesy, they helped him bring people into the will of G-d. 1 Corinthians 14:3, ‘But someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them.’ Others were raised up to assist Moshe. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. As G-d leads we are to delegate, empower, guide and educate others letting go so people can grow. Further Reading: Ephesians 4:12, Romans 12:4-8, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Romans 14:19, Isaiah 49:5-6