The Green-Eyed Monster

30 Sep

A young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses?aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”  (Nm 11:27-29)

In today’s first reading, Moses contends with a problem.  Two men, Eldad and Medad, were not in the camp the night that Moses prayed over seventy elders and they received the Spirit.  However, the two, though they were not present, had also received the Spirit and there were some in the camp who appeared to be jealous.

Moses immediately corrected them.

“Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!” he responded.

And he meant it.

There are so many times in our lives when we begrudge the gifts that others have received.  We become jealous of them rather than celebrate the fact that God has blessed His people.  In blessing others, we often receive.

We have to get over ourselves and realize that God is the one in charge, that God has a plan, and the sooner we realize and embrace that truth, the better off we will become.  Because when we become open to the Lord, then we become ready to receive what He wishes to give to us.

FAITH ACTION:  Has someone been blessed in ways that cause you to be jealous of them.  Instead, take the time to thank God for what He has given to others and ask God to open yourself up to what He wants to give to you.