Verses 10–15
The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed himself otherwise than became him. He
undervalued the honour God had put upon him. He magnified his own performances, while he had
the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power to dispense rewards and punishments. He
speaks distrustfully of the Divine grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone
through it in his own strength; but had it been much greater, through God strengthening him, he
might have done it. Let us pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.
Verses 16–23
Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced men. God promises
to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit. Even the
discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity
of all the delights of sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual pleasures alone will
satisfy and last. As the world passes away, so do the lusts of it. 2. What brutish sins gluttony and
drunkenness are! they make that to hurt the body which should be its health. Moses objects. Even
true and great believers sometimes find it hard to trust God under the discouragements of second
causes, and against hope to believe in hope. God here brings Moses to this point, The Lord God is
Almighty; and puts the proof upon the issue, Thou shalt see whether my word shall come to pass
or not. If he speaks, it is done.
Verses 24–30
We have here the fulfilment of God's word to Moses, that he should have help in the government
of Israel. He gave of his Spirit to the seventy elders. They discoursed to the people of the things of
God, so that all who heard them might say, that God was with them of a truth. Two of the elders,
Eldad and Medad, went not out unto the tabernacle, as the rest, being sensible of their own weakness
and unworthiness. But the Spirit of God found them in the camp, and there they exercised their gift
of praying, preaching, and praising God; they spake as moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of
God is not confined to the tabernacle, but, like the wind, blows where He listeth. And they that
humble themselves shall be exalted; and those who are most fit for government, are least ambitious
of it. Joshua does not desire that they should be punished, but only restrained for the future. This
motion he made out of zeal for what he thought to be the unity of the church. He would have them
silenced, lest they should occasion a schism, or should rival Moses; but Moses was not afraid of
any such effects from that Spirit which God had put upon them. Shall we reject those whom Christ
has owned, or restrain any from doing good, because they are not in every thing of our mind? Moses
wishes all the Lord's people were prophets, that he would put his Spirit upon all of them. Let the
testimony of Moses be believed by those who desire to be in power; that government is a burden.
It is a burden of care and trouble to those who make conscience of the duty of it; and to those who
do not, it will prove a heavier burden in the day of account. Let the example of Moses be followed
by those in power; let them not despise the advice and assistance of others, but desire it, and be
thankful for it. If all the present number of the Lord's people were rendered prophets, or ministers,