Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

8

THE REAPPEARANCE

OF PROPHECY

" . . . I will pour out My Spirit. . . . "

Joel 2:28

GOD WAS ANGRY. Moses was upset. People wept in their tents. The scene was desperate. The miracle food called "manna" no longer satisfied the people's greedy appetites and they cried out, "Our soul is dried away!" (Numbers 11:6, my translation). Weeping swept through the whole encampment as the people longingly remembered the juicy, savory food so abundant in Egypt. Like prisoners banging plates and chanting grievances, Israel raised the strident cry, "Give us meat that we may eat!" (verse 13). Moses panicked and asked to die. God, ignoring the request, chose in stead to make this situation a learning experience. He explained that Moses would share his spiritual mantle-the same power and burden with the elders of Israel. And, incidentally, meat would be provided miraculously, of course. "Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And it came about that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied" (verse 25). It was an inspiring moment in Israel. The 68 elders standing before Moses experienced the Holy Spirit and began to speak forth the words of God. Suddenly a breathless messenger hurried forward with startling news. Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, away in a different part of the camp, had the Spirit also come on them. They were prophesying! 129.