Numbers 11:24-35
At his request, Moses is relieved of a part of his responsibilities in favour of seventy elders. Right from the fourth chapter of Exodus, Aaron had been appointed "to be his spokesman to the people". It is humbling to think that our lack of faith often obliges the Lord to have a part of our work undertaken by others.
The elders are assembled at the tabernacle where the Spirit comes upon them. We then learn that two of these men, Eldad and Medad, have stayed in the camp and are prophesying there. Joshua would like to prevent them (cf. Luke 9:49), but for Moses it is good news. Paul himself also rejoiced wholeheartedly that the Gospel was preached, even "of envy and strife" (Philippians 1:15-18). If God has shown us the way of separation "outside the camp, bearing his reproach", let us refrain from judging in an attitude of superiority those believers who, perhaps more godly and devoted than we are, have not understood this separation. All we possess or know, it is to the pure grace of God that we owe it.
We can imagine what would happen to the mass of dead quails under the desert sun! Galatians 6:8 warns that "he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption".