Numbers 17: Confirming God's Chosen Leadership
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.
And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he.
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
Numbers 17 stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign choice and confirmation of leadership, specifically addressing the challenge to Aaron's authority as High Priest. This chapter reveals God's decisive action to quell rebellion and solidify the legitimacy of His chosen leaders, offering valuable insights into the importance of respecting divinely appointed authority and the consequences of challenging it.
The Test of the Staffs (Numbers 17:1-5)
In response to the persistent questioning of Aaron's priestly authority, God initiated a remarkable test. Each tribe was instructed to provide a staff, representing their leadership. Numbers 17:2 specifies, "Speak to the Israelites, and get from them, from each tribe a staff, from all their leaders according to their ancestral houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff." This act symbolized the authority vested in each tribal leader. Crucially, Aaron's name was to be inscribed on the staff representing the tribe of Levi (Numbers 17:3), further emphasizing his unique role.
These staffs were then placed before the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle (Numbers 17:4), a sacred space signifying God's presence. The divine decree was clear: the staff of God's chosen priest would miraculously sprout (Numbers 17:5). This supernatural sign would unequivocally demonstrate God's selection and quell the doubts of the rebellious Israelites.
Aaron's Staff Buds and Blossoms (Numbers 17:6-11)
Moses diligently followed God's instructions. The next day, upon entering the Tabernacle, a stunning sight awaited him: "Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but also produced buds, blossomed, and yielded ripe almonds" (Numbers 17:8). This miraculous event served as undeniable proof of God's favor upon Aaron and his designated role as High Priest. The staff, once a dead piece of wood, had sprung to life, bearing witness to God's power and Aaron's divinely ordained position.
God then commanded Moses to return the staff to the Tabernacle (Numbers 17:10), where it was to be kept as a lasting reminder of this divine confirmation (see Hebrews 9:4). This served as a visible warning to any future challengers of God's chosen leadership, emphasizing the potential consequences of such defiance.
Fear and Acknowledgment (Numbers 17:12-13)
The miraculous sprouting of Aaron's staff had a profound impact on the Israelites. Overwhelmed by the demonstration of God's power and the consequences of their rebellion, they expressed deep fear, lamenting, "We are doomed! We are perishing; we are all perishing! Everyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all to perish?" (Numbers 17:12-13).
Interestingly, the text offers no indication of Moses attempting to alleviate their fear. Perhaps, as Tony Evans notes, Moses recognized the value of this God-given fear in their hearts, a reverence that had been sorely lacking. This fear, born out of a recognition of God's holiness and power, was a crucial step toward restoring order and respect for divinely appointed leadership.
Numbers 17 provides a timeless lesson on the importance of respecting God's chosen leaders and the consequences of challenging His authority. It highlights God's commitment to confirming those He has called and the need for humility and submission in the face of divine appointment. It also underscores the importance of a healthy fear of the Lord, one that leads to reverence and obedience.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.
And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he.
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
Numbers 17 stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign choice and confirmation of leadership, specifically addressing the challenge to Aaron's authority as High Priest. This chapter reveals God's decisive action to quell rebellion and solidify the legitimacy of His chosen leaders, offering valuable insights into the importance of respecting divinely appointed authority and the consequences of challenging it.
The Test of the Staffs (Numbers 17:1-5)
In response to the persistent questioning of Aaron's priestly authority, God initiated a remarkable test. Each tribe was instructed to provide a staff, representing their leadership. Numbers 17:2 specifies, "Speak to the Israelites, and get from them, from each tribe a staff, from all their leaders according to their ancestral houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff." This act symbolized the authority vested in each tribal leader. Crucially, Aaron's name was to be inscribed on the staff representing the tribe of Levi (Numbers 17:3), further emphasizing his unique role.
These staffs were then placed before the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle (Numbers 17:4), a sacred space signifying God's presence. The divine decree was clear: the staff of God's chosen priest would miraculously sprout (Numbers 17:5). This supernatural sign would unequivocally demonstrate God's selection and quell the doubts of the rebellious Israelites.
Aaron's Staff Buds and Blossoms (Numbers 17:6-11)
Moses diligently followed God's instructions. The next day, upon entering the Tabernacle, a stunning sight awaited him: "Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but also produced buds, blossomed, and yielded ripe almonds" (Numbers 17:8). This miraculous event served as undeniable proof of God's favor upon Aaron and his designated role as High Priest. The staff, once a dead piece of wood, had sprung to life, bearing witness to God's power and Aaron's divinely ordained position.
God then commanded Moses to return the staff to the Tabernacle (Numbers 17:10), where it was to be kept as a lasting reminder of this divine confirmation (see Hebrews 9:4). This served as a visible warning to any future challengers of God's chosen leadership, emphasizing the potential consequences of such defiance.
Fear and Acknowledgment (Numbers 17:12-13)
The miraculous sprouting of Aaron's staff had a profound impact on the Israelites. Overwhelmed by the demonstration of God's power and the consequences of their rebellion, they expressed deep fear, lamenting, "We are doomed! We are perishing; we are all perishing! Everyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all to perish?" (Numbers 17:12-13).
Interestingly, the text offers no indication of Moses attempting to alleviate their fear. Perhaps, as Tony Evans notes, Moses recognized the value of this God-given fear in their hearts, a reverence that had been sorely lacking. This fear, born out of a recognition of God's holiness and power, was a crucial step toward restoring order and respect for divinely appointed leadership.
Numbers 17 provides a timeless lesson on the importance of respecting God's chosen leaders and the consequences of challenging His authority. It highlights God's commitment to confirming those He has called and the need for humility and submission in the face of divine appointment. It also underscores the importance of a healthy fear of the Lord, one that leads to reverence and obedience.