“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘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, and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.’ 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.” (v1-5,8)
Remember how in the last chapter the people (primarily Levites) rebelled and grumbled against Aaron and Moses? Well God tries to put the grumbling to rest once and for all with this sign – the chosen leader’s staff would sprout. God confirms Aaron as His chosen representative by growing blossoms and ripe almonds on his staff overnight.
This sign is also significant for a second reason – it conveys the absolute power of our creator God. It takes a minimum of five years to twelve years for an almond tree to begin bearing fruit. This staff (presumably a dead tree limb) producing ripe almonds overnight is a miracle only an all-powerful God could accomplish (this was easy for Him, He made all plant life in a single breath on a single day after all).
Israel responds by acknowledging their sin in the matter. Of course they do so in a complaining and miserable way, but baby steps are better than no steps at all I suppose.
My takeaway is a reminder that God chooses those in authority, and gives them that authority, and we are to respect and obey both God and the leaders. We may not agree with the leaders, but rebelling against someone God Has placed into authority and is actively leading through, clearly doesn’t end well.
Now, obviously there can be exceptions made when those God-ordained leaders are not following God and lead out of sin – we should not follow that which the Holy Spirit and God’s word clearly speak against (eg. just because something is legal, does not make it biblically moral). Leaders can be fallible, however, God is flawless, so our primary guide must always be the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Father God, we praise You for Your desire to lead and guide us. Please humble our proud hearts, and help us to follow Your leadership, whether it’s direct or indirect. Please give us an ear to hear Your voice, and know who is speaking Your truth so that we may obey You. In Jesus name, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training