11/11/11 AARON’S STAFF THAT BUDDED
Numbers 17:1-13
Friday, November 11, 2011 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key Verse: 17:5
.”The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for helping me to keep my focus on you and your word today. What a blessing it is to have the gospel and Jesus to focus on. I thank you for helping Mark to make friends and the have a sleep over date. I thank you for hearing my prayers and helping Augustine to overcome his school studies and to submit to Christ with glad and sincere heart. I thank you for James who is sincere in his Bible study. Please help him to be a shepherd. May He suen become a believer. Please help us to raise disciples of Jesus among NIU students. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
1. A staff for the head of each tribe (1-7).
Verses 1-7 read, “ 1 aThe LORD said to Moses, 2 ‘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. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling 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.”
The rebellion against Aaron (16:10-11) had been quelled, but people continued to question his spiritual authority and grumble against him. God wanted to rid himself of the constant grumbling. The head of each tribe was to bring his staff. The 12 staffs, including Aaron’s staff, were placed before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting in front of the ark of the Testimony. God would make the staff of his chosen servant sprout.
God is not too happy with grumbling servants of God. He wants to quell the grumbling. Instead of grumbling how about saying words of faith and hope and encouragement? I thank God for helping me to repent of my grumbling lately. When I was despaired and I grumbled a lot about the work of God and against people. If I didn’t grumble I sat all alone in my depressed feelings. It seemed that grumbling was my joy of life. But this was not right. I have a choice. I can grumble and complain or I can thank and serve Jesus. What will it be> Obviously I must choose the way that glorifies God and brings life. Lord, save me from my despair and help me to not grumble and complain, but to serve Jesus and bring glory to your name.
2. Aaron’s staff (8-13).
Verse 8-13, “ 8 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. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs 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 in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11Moses did just as the LORD commanded him.
12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to die?”
In one night, Aaron’s staff sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced almonds! God displayed his resurrection power and confirmed Aaron as the servant whom he had chosen. Only the Creator God can give life to the dead. Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the Testimony reminded the people that God is the living God and that Aaron is a leader because God appointed him. The grumblers were terrified because they realized that they had been opposing God.
God has his way of showing who is right and who is wrong. I can see who is right by seeing the fruit of their lives. Those who are fruitful, especially those who bear the fruit of love and faith and disciples should be listened to and upheld and respected.
Prayer: Lord, display your resurrection power in the lives of changed people. Teach us to respect the leaders whom you have chosen.
One Word: Find whom God is working through and listen to them.
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