September 21

“The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.” —NUMBERS 17:8

Following a rebellion that took place in the wilderness, opposing the leadership of Moses and Aaron, God said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name…. Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites” (Numbers 17:1-5).

The staff was not simply a walking stick, but represented the authority, status and ministry of the tribe. This had always been its meaning. Jacob, in blessing his sons before he died, said to Judah, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come…” (Genesis 49:10). This is clearly a messianic statement when the ruler’s staff would come into the hands of the Messiah. The people had been grumbling that they could do the job as well as Moses and Aaron, and the object of the exercise was to show who God had chosen for the priesthood.

All twelve staffs were taken into the tabernacle, placed in the Most Holy Place and left overnight “before the LORD”. The next day Moses saw Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had not only sprouted, but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. There was life in the staff, evidence that Aaron was the man God had chosen for the priesthood. This was, of course, supernatural. The life in the staff had a divine origin, which could not be explained by anything Aaron did, but by what God did. 

The reason Aaron’s staff budded and blossomed is because God, having called Aaron to the priesthood, would take responsibility for the work. God was committed to no other staff in the tabernacle, for no other staff was there by His appointing. If any other man took the role of priest, regardless of how sincerely motivated and qualified he was, God had no commitment to his work. Aaron was His choice and through Aaron, He would work. This does not mean that God is committed to a few selected people; He is committed to every one of us in whatever role He has given us. If we are going to produce fruit, we cannot think purely in human terms. Only the life of God perpetuates the work of God, and we must not only expect the supernatural, but be dependent upon it.

PRAYER: Keep me mindful, Lord, that You are the means and the power behind anything You have called me to do. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I dependent on divine power for what God has called me to do?