In Numbers 11, the Israelites complained about their misfortunes and the Lord heard them. His anger was kindled and his fire burned the outer parts of the camp. The people cried out to Moses and he prayed and the fire died down. There were some foreigners travelling along with the Israelites, who had a strong craving for meat. This craving soon spread among God’s people and they started complaining. “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers 11:5). They complained that they were now weak as all they had to eat was manna. The manna which they ate was like coriander seeds, which they grounded into wheat and made cakes. This fell at night for them to collect daily as food.

Moses heard the people’s complaints and knew that the Lord was also angry with them. He also had some concerns which he expressed to God. He asked God why he had laid the burden of all his people on him. He asked if he had given birth to them and asked where he would get meat to feed all of the people. “I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness”” (Numbers 11:14-15). Moses felt depressed from all the constant complaining and rebellion of the people. God instructed him to choose seventy elders from among the people. They were to come to the tent of meeting and stand with Moses.

God promised to come down to speak to Moses and take some of the spirit (anointing) that was on him and transfer it to the elders. They would help Moses to bear the burden of the people, so that he would not have to bear their burden alone. God also promised to give the people meat for a month, enough to eat until it would come out of their nostrils. This was because of their bitter complaining against God. When Moses brought the elders to the camp, the spirit of the Lord rested on them and they prophesied. Two of the men who remained in the camp, continued to prophesy after the other men left. “And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp” (Numbers 11:27). Joshua told Moses to stop the men from prophesying. Moses’s response to Joshua was that, he wished that all the people of God would prophesy and God’s spirit would be in them.

Moses was tired of carrying the burden of the people and being the main person who could hear from God. His desire was a good one, that everyone would have the spirit of God and could hear and understand him. Their constant complaining was due to their immaturity and lack of understanding of God. Moses felt that if they knew God and had his spirit within them, then they would know how to speak to God and would complain less. Saints, that spirit of God now lives in us through the Holy Spirit and we can hear God and communicate with him. ““And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28). This same Holy Spirit power, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us as God’s spirit has been poured out.

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Paul spoke in Romans 8 of his hope of the future glory which will be revealed in us as children of God. Paul’s reflections was that the sufferings, trials and disappointments that we experience here on earth, are nothing to be compared to what we will experience when we are transformed into the image of God. We are made in the image of God but while on earth, we live in the flesh. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Like Jesus during his time on earth, we are spirit beings that are housed in earthly vessels of flesh and blood. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, that if this earthly ‘tent’ or body is destroyed, that we have another building or body not made with human hands. “For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2). Paul had constant conflicts between being present here with the saints or being absent from earth but present with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).

While we live here on earth, our aim is to grow in the spirit while we daily crucify the flesh with its deeds. Our hope is beyond this life and we wait for a life beyond this. We are here to fulfil our God given assignment and to fulfil our destiny. There are loved ones who have made the transition before us and are at home with Jesus Christ. We carry on to complete the course set before us and have a hope that we will meet them when it is our time to transition. While we live and advance the kingdom, we remember that there is a life beyond this state.

All the time our outer selves are wasting away, our inner man is being renewed daily (2 Corinthians 4:16).

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Paul spoke about the work of the Holy Spirit which makes us children of God or sons/daughters of God. I believe that the manifestation of God’s people is overtime and at different stages. Manifestation refers to an object, event or actions which shows or demonstrates something. As such, our walk with God is so that our lives will demonstrate his glory. Now the manifestation of the Holy Spirit from the day of Pentecost until now, demonstrates that we are children of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

We were born into the earth for a set time to demonstrate God’s glory. God has deposited in us the person of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate his power in the earth. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). We are in the world but not of the world and we demonstrate the workmanship of Christ. This is why Jesus promised that as we follow him, that we would do, not only the works that he did, but even greater works (John 14:12).

The world is hungry for power and people gravitate towards people who they perceive to have power. “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you” (Luke 10:19). When the body of Christ understands who we are, the power that we have in Christ Jesus and demonstrate that power to the world, then people will be drawn to Christ. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

The church sometimes lives well below our potential because we do not understand what we have at our disposal. We have to come against the spirit of fear and refuse to cower to the enemy’s tactics. Jesus said to Peter, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus also promised Peter that he was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever the church binds (disallows) on earth would be bound (disallowed in heaven; and whatever we loose (allow) on the earth would be loosed (allowed) in heaven (Matthew 16:18-19).

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There is a story in Acts which is told about Simon, the Magician. He had previously practiced magic or sorcery, which amazed the people. Simon considered himself great and the people all paid attention to him and regarded him as ‘the power of God.’ After a while, Philip preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and the people believed and were baptised. “Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed” (Acts 8:13). When the apostles heard that Samaria had received the gospel, they sent Peter and John who went there to pray for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. The people were baptised, but had not yet received the baptism by fire.

When Simon saw that the spirit was given to the people through the laying on of hands by the Apostles, he offered them money. “saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit”” (Acts 8:19). Peter rebuked Simon and said, ‘may your silver perish with you.’ This was because Simon thought that he could receive the anointing of God with money. Peter told him that he would not receive the gift of God because his heart was not right before God. He was instructed to repent of this wickedness and pray so that God would forgive him. Peter commented that Simon had the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity. He begged Peter to pray for him that what he said would not happen to him.

The Apostles in Acts performed many great signs, wonders and miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit and using the name and authority of Jesus Christ. Before their arrival in Samaria, Simon had the attention, fame and popularity of the people. This was to the extend that the people regarded him as having the ‘great power of God. Nevertheless, when Philip showed up and peached the gospel, the eyes of the people were opened. They realised the true and living God and saw even greater signs and wonders than what Simon had performed. Simon also appeared to have converted but was not fully transformed. Within him was the desire for power and possibly to have his fame restored.

He thought he could entice the apostles with money to receive the grace and anointing on their lives. I have heard ministers before encourage people to sow a seed in order to receive from their anointing. Such things are not to happen in the body of Christ, as the gifts of the spirit cannot be purchased with money. We should desire the sincere gifts of the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:1) and seek the face of God to be filled. It is when we seek God with a pure and sincere heart, then we will be filled. The motives of our hearts are also important as the gifts are given for the edification of the church. Spiritual gifts are not given to make us famous or popular, but for the establishment of the kingdom of God.

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A story is told in Numbers 22-23 about the King of Moab named Balak. During his time as King, the Israelites travelled from Egypt towards the promised land. When they came near Moab, Balak became nervous because they had overthrown every Kingdom before them. Balak was worried that now Isreal would overtake him and possess his kingdom. He sent to call Balaam who was a Diviner (Medium) to pronounce a curse on the children of Isreal. Interestingly, the scripture says that Balaam prayed unto the Lord for direction before going to meet the King. “God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed”” (Numbers 22:12).

The King did not take no for an answer but sent another company of men to summon Balaam. This time, God appeared to him and told him to go with them. On the way to meet the King, Balaam’s donkey saw an angel and refused to continue and eventually spoke to him when he struck her. The angel told Balaam to go with the men but to only speak what the Lord allowed him to say. When Balaam arrived, Balak took him to a place where he could see the Israelites. On three separate occasions Balaam asked for seven altars to be built to offer sacrifices to the Lord. On each occasion, he would listen to hear God speak and then declare what he had to say.

Three times Balaam pronounced a blessing over the children of Isreal as the Lord gave him utterance. “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced” (Numbers 23:8)? Balak was angry with Balaam because he did the opposite of what he asked. He blessed the people three times and did not curse them once. He reminded Balak that he did make it clear to his men that no amount of money would cause him to speak contrary to what God had said. Balaam had no power to pronounce a curse on those whom God had blessed.

We are the seed of Abraham and the blessings of God are conferred to us. “In thee all families of the earth will be blessed.” No one will be able to stand against us all the days of our lives. The blessings of God makes us rich and adds no sorrow. Every curse directed towards us returns to its sender double fold and only the blessings of the Lord rests upon us. The blessings of God nullifies the curse and anyone who tries to curse us, invokes a curse on themselves.

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We read about Joshua and Caleb in the story of the twelve spies of Isreal. In Numbers 13, God instructed Moses to send men to spy out the land. He sent a leader or a chief from each tribe, including Caleb from the tribe of Judah and Joshua from tribe of Ephraim. All of the men went and saw the land, including the fruits, the abundance and the inhabitants. The majority of the men (ten), brought back such an evil report that the people became despondent. The people rebelled against God, threatened to stone Moses and Aaron, appoint a new leader and return to Egypt. Despite the crowd mentality, Joshua and Caleb stood out and gave a different report. “But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it”” (Numbers 13:30).

The other men contradicted Caleb’s report and were adamant that the people were stronger than they. They considered the land to be one which devoured its inhabitants. “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them”” (Numbers 13:33). Joshua maintained a similar position to Caleb and begged the people to listen to what God said through Moses. The people’s disobedience led to God decreeing that they would not see the promised land, except for Caleb and Joshua. I wonder what distinguished Joshua and Caleb from the other spies. What made them bold and full of faith while others cowered in fear?

Joshua was Moses’s servant who had spent a lot of time with him in the mountains, when he went up to speak to God. I assume that there was something special about him, which made Moses choose him as his assistant. I also believe that his time with Moses and in the presence of God made him stand out among other men. Joshua was loyal, supportive, committed, dedicated and bold. He was also chosen to succeed Moses and led Isreal into Canaan. Caleb also stood out, although we are not sure that he spent as much time with Moses. What would have helped Caleb to take a similar position to Joshua? We can assume that perhaps they spent time together. The group of twelve men sent out together would have created sub groups and some people were likely to gravitate towards people with a similar mindset to theirs.

The other thing that we know about Caleb, is that he was from the tribe of Judah. Before Jacob died, he pronounced a blessing on his children. The blessing of Judah was that he would have the praise of his brothers. His foot would be on the neck of his enemies and the sceptre and the ruler’s staff would never be removed from Judah. The tribe of Judah represents the lion and are characterised by violent worshippers like David. Jesus who is the lion of the tribe of Judah was born through this tribe. Even when Caleb was eighthy five, there was no slowing him down. “I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming” (Joshua 14:11). The mountain which Caleb and his tribe possessed was inhabited by one of the fiercest tribes in the region. Nevertheless, they took possession of the land and settled his tribe in that region.

From the stories of these two men we can learn a few lessons. Men of valour and strength are produced from spending time in the presence of God and being surrounded by anointed leadership. Generational blessings play a role in the destinies of men and women. The blessing of Jacob concerning Judah rested on Caleb and influenced the disposition of his tribe. The dominant or popular voice or belief is very seldom a godly one. Caleb and Joshua were willing to stand out from the crowd and stood with Moses and Aaron, despite the dominant opinion. It was this single mindedness, boldness, loyalty and character which set Joshua apart for leadership. We have to develop character in order to be qualified to lead. Caleb did not allow his age to define him and was fearless despite his age. Joshua was of a similar age and together they conquered territories and possessed their inheritance.

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In John 16, Jesus told his disciples of a time when they would experience sorrow, when he departed from the world. He said that they would have him for a little while and then they would no longer see him. The disciples reasoned among themselves about the meaning of his sayings. Jesus’s answer to them was, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). He compared their sorrow as being like a woman, who experienced pain at the time of childbirth. Once the baby was delivered, the woman would forget her anguish, because she would rejoice that her child has entered the world. Jesus promised that his disciples would see him again and on that day they would rejoice and no one would take their joy away.

The other thing which he said to his disciples was that, until that time, they had not asked for anything in his name. He encouraged them to ask, so that they would receive joy. The joy which Jesus was referring to, as it relates to asking and receiving was synonymous with birthing. We are in a season of the outpouring of the presence of God. Soon after this discussion with his disciples, Jesus was arrested and crucified. He arose on the third day and appeared to his disciples. He pronounced peace unto them and sent them out to preach the gospel. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

Later in Acts, the other disciples were instructed to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reinforced this before his ascension and reminded them of what he had promised before. John’s baptism was with water, but they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was to give the disciples power to be his witnesses. This Holy Spirit power would also give them boldness and power to work signs, wonders and miracles. The disciples gathered to pray and cast lots to choose another disciple to replace Judas. After these things, the day of Pentecost or the day when the promise of the Holy Spirit would come, was fulfilled. A sound came from heaven like a mighty rushing wind and filled the house where they were. And tongues appearing like fire came and sat on each of them. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”(Acts 2:4).

I don’t believe that Pentecost is a one time event and God is always looking for a people who are ready for an outpouring of his spirit. The creation is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God and we have to be set ablaze in order to change this world. God will go ahead of us and level the crooked places, break in pieces the stubborn doors and cut through every bar of iron. “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name”(Isaiah 45:3). These resources are for the furtherance of the gospel and the establishment of the kingdom of God. We need the power of the Holy Spirit and an outpouring of the presence of God for breakthrough. This anointing empowered David to run against a troop and leap over a wall (Psalm 18:29). As we pray and receive the anointing for breakthrough, no giant, mountain, wall, gate or stubborn doors can stand in our way.

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