Why does the number seventy matter in Numbers 11:16?
The number seventy signifies God's doing, since seven is the number of God, and seventy is ten times seven. God instructed Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel to stand with him, providing a spiritual remedy when Moses said he could not bear the people alone.
Les teaches that in Numbers 11:16, after Moses came to the end of his rope and said he could not bear all the people alone, God gave the spiritual remedy. He told Moses to gather seventy men of the elders of Israel, known to be elders and officers, and bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation to stand there with him. Les points out that seven is the number of God and always indicates this is God's doing, so seventy is ten times seven.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.