In June 2011, pro hockey player Gilbert Brule was driving in Vancouver with his girlfriend. As they passed two hitchhikers, Brule blurted out, “That’s Bono!” Brule’s girlfriend wasn’t buying it. “I didn’t believe him, so I kept driving.” Brule convinced her to turn around, and indeed it was U2’s lead singer Bono and his assistant. They’d been hiking when a rainstorm struck, and now they were trying to hitch a ride back to their vehicle. The couple gave the rocker a ride, and Bono thanked them with tickets and backstage passes to his show that evening. Brule had tickets to the Stanley Cup finals that night, but ditched the Cup for U2.
Grace and blessing come from all kinds of surprising places. Moses knew this as well. He had been overwhelmed with the responsibilities of leading Israel. So God instructed Moses to gather 70 respected elders of the tribe, and they would “bear the burden of the people along with [Moses]” (Numbers 11:17). The stretched leader gathered the 70 and the Spirit of God came over the group and “gave [them] the same Spirit that was upon Moses” (Numbers 11:25).
Two other Israelite leaders, however, were not present and later began to prophesy on their own. Joshua, incensed that this act challenged Moses’ leadership, protested. Moses wisely and calmly replied: “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them all” (Numbers 11:29).
Human nature wants to control grace. We want to manipulate the people God uses—and how God uses them. We grow jealous of those who don’t seem to follow the precise path we’ve followed. Just like Moses, however, we should rejoice anytime God does His work—no matter how (or with whom) God chooses to do it.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Job 38:1-41
More:
Read Mark 9:38-50. What are the parallels and differences between this story and the story in Numbers?
Next:
Where are you tempted to judge someone else who is doing God’s work? How can you walk in peace with someone who is attempting to follow God but doing it differently than you would do?
alli on May 10, 2012 at 12:44 am
this is so tru i think of a christian singer group that is very popular and people always critcize the way they do things but they are very effective in reaching those many do speak to with the Gospel i have to remember this too.
lindagma on May 10, 2012 at 7:33 am
Years ago, I learned in a Beth Moore study, that you don’t have to jump up and volunteer for everything that needs doing. If I will sit on it for a bit there will probably be someone who is more timid…but more capable than me to take on the task. The first time I exercised that newly acquired knowledge, it blessed my heart when God showed me the truth of it. I still volunteer, but I’m more considerate in giving opportunity to others.
winn collier on May 15, 2012 at 3:15 pm
learning to sit still is one of the most liberating graces we can learn.
tom felten on May 10, 2012 at 11:55 am
This is a helpful and challenging message. May God give us discernment to know when we should humbly submit to God’s grace working in someone in a way that’s different from our own and when we should lovingly confront them as Apollos was by Priscilla and Aquila—helping him to “even more accurately” live out and teach God’s message (Acts 18:24-26).
winn collier on May 15, 2012 at 3:17 pm
And Paul thanking that the gospel is proclaimed, even if for greedy, selfish motives. Discernment indeed.
alfa77 on May 10, 2012 at 7:48 pm
The tendency to be jealous of what God has bestowed on others must be resisted seriously,for that comes from Satan himself who delights in throwing in the apple of discord amongst Christians. The complaint against Eldad and Medad(Nu.11:26-28)and that by John in Mark 9:28.were borne out of envy,jealousy and selfishness.Or downright ignorance.Our attitude should be in line with that of Moses and Jesus.”Oh! I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and endowed with the Spirit”said Moses.(Nu.11:29) and “He who is not against us is on our side” mediated our Lord(Mk.9:40)
winn collier on May 15, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Jealousy is a joy-killer.