Are you jealous of what others have or their talents? Do you rejoice with someone who can do something you cannot? Do you ask God to give other’s gifts so they may better serve him and his plan? Do your praise God for blessing others? Do you think it is important?
Jealousy often rules our hearts. We desire something someone else has. It may be material possessions. It may be a specific talent. It may even be a gift from God. Rather than rejoicing for them, we sit off to the side and pout or are envious of them.
Moses was not envious. Quite the opposite. When he was told there were a couple of men in the Israelite camp who were prophesying and further told he should stop them, Moses rejected the suggestion. Instead, he was thankful they were prophesying and stated he wished that all of God’s people would prophecy. He wanted God to give every one of his children the Holy Spirit so they could prophecy.
God has answered Moses’ prayer. He has given his Holy Spirit to every one of his children. That means each of us should be prophesying. As stated yesterday, prophesying does not mean we are to foretell the future. It means we should be proclaiming God’s Word. We are to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. We are to tell people that God loves them. We are to tell them about God’s grace, mercy, and offer of forgiveness. Does God have expectations? Sure. He wants us to obey his commandments. Most of all, he wants us to tell others about him.
I pray we all give up jealousy. I pray we all rejoice with others who have a gift from God. I pray each one of us will proclaim the Word of God, telling others about the good news of Jesus Christ. Give up your jealousy. Rejoice with others. Proclaim God’s Word. Tell others about Jesus.
Number 11:27-29 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”
Marty Pressey 