Reflection: 70 elders share the burden

Yesterday we were singing! But no sooner than this travelling band is on the move – seen from above, a crawling, dense, dusty mass – they’re defined by complaint, defiance and schism. This is heinous behaviour in the eyes of a pure and present God. (Burdensome, to say the least, according to Moses.) In anger the Lord circles the camp with punishing fire. But in grace he deals with Moses’ despair. “Gather 70 elders at the heart of the camp,” says the Lord. And there, among the 70, he divides both Moses’ burden of leadership and his own Spirit.

See how, on one hand, at the heart of the camp, where the 70 are gathered, the wind of God’s Spirit is drawing people to him? While on the other hand, outside the camp his wind blows judgement on them. “You want meat? You’ll get meat…till you’re sick of it.” And gales blowing from the sea deposit grotesque amounts of quail (about 90cm deep) around a day’s journey outside the camp.

Prayer:

As your judgement and mercy met in this story, so, blow, Spirit of God, to exercise justice and mercy in our world today. Deal gently with those who are despairing. Liberally pour your Spirit into our hearts that we might not lose hope in the challenges of today.