GOD'S GLORY REVEALED IN THE DRY ROD
Key verse: 17:5
NIV
The Budding of Aaron’s Staff
17 [a]The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs(A) from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.(B) Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name,(C) for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting(D) in front of the ark of the covenant law,(E) where I meet with you.(F) 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose(G) will sprout,(H) and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling(I) against you by the Israelites.”
6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.(J)
8 The next day Moses entered the tent(K) and saw that Aaron’s staff,(L) which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.(M) 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs(N) from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.
10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff(O) in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious.(P) This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.
12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!(Q) 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die.(R) Are we all going to die?”
Footnotes
- Numbers 17:1 In Hebrew texts 17:1-13 is numbered 17:16-28.
Cross references
- Numbers 17:2 : S Ge 32:10; S Ex 4:2
- Numbers 17:2 : Nu 1:4
- Numbers 17:3 : S Nu 1:3
- Numbers 17:4 : S Ex 40:2
- Numbers 17:4 : ver 7; Ex 16:34
- Numbers 17:4 : Ex 25:22
- Numbers 17:5 : S Nu 16:5
- Numbers 17:5 : ver 8
- Numbers 17:5 : S Ex 16:7
- Numbers 17:7 : S Ex 38:21
- Numbers 17:8 : ver 7; Nu 1:50
- Numbers 17:8 : ver 2, 10
- Numbers 17:8 : Eze 17:24; Heb 9:4
- Numbers 17:9 : ver 2
- Numbers 17:10 : S ver 8
- Numbers 17:10 : S Ex 23:21; Dt 9:24; Ps 66:7; 68:18; Pr 24:21
- Numbers 17:12 : Jdg 13:22; Isa 6:5; 15:1
- Numbers 17:13 : Nu 1:51
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Aaron's Staff Buds
17 [a] The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 (A)“Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff, 3 and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house. 4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, (B)where I meet with you. 5 And the staff of the man (C)whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me (D)the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” 6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. 7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the Lord in (E)the tent of the testimony.
8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back (F)the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept (G)as a sign for the rebels, (H)that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.
12 And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13 (I)Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 17:1 Ch 17:16 in Hebrew
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
First, God had a unique way to solve the grumbling problem (1-7). The people questioned Aaron's spiritual authority. God graciously set out to reveal his choice as his priest. Moses was to give a staff to each tribal leader. Their names were to be on each staff. Aaron too, was to have a staff. The staffs were then placed in front of the ark. Then, through the night, God would miraculously reveal his choice for the leadership of the priesthood. Moses obeyed, prayed and waited on God to act. Second, God revealed his own sovereign choice (8-13). Aaron's staff budded with blossoms and almonds overnight. It was a complete miracle! Only the Creator God can give life to the dead. God displayed his glory and his power and confirmed Aaron as the servant whom he had chosen. Moses was told to put Aaron's staff in the ark. It was a testimony that God is the Sovereign Lord who chooses whom he wills, and his will prevails. The people were terrified for they knew they were in the wrong. They must learn to come to God by faith.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us to know your will. Help us to come to you, even when we're wrong.
One Word: The will of the Sovereign Lord prevails
