God took of the Spirit on Moses and gave it to seventy elders to share the burden of leadership and to confirm that the work of leading Israel was by His Spirit, not human strength. Moses had grown weary of carrying the weight of the people’s complaints alone, and God provided help by equipping chosen men with the same Spirit that rested on Moses.
“So the Lord said to Moses: ‘Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.’” (Numbers 11:16–17)
This act showed that leadership in God’s people was not about personal ability but about God’s Spirit empowering men for service. By distributing His Spirit among the elders, God both supported Moses and confirmed to Israel that these men were truly appointed to help lead. It reminded the nation that all authority and wisdom come from the Lord.
