Numbers 17
Aaron's Budding Staff and the Resurrected Christ (Numbers 17:1-13)
Numbers 17:5 (NIV) “The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
The direct reason Israel underwent forty years of wilderness training was because of the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea.
Israel, having received God's forty-year wilderness training sentence, beat their chests in regret, but it was to no avail.
In a situation where the forty-year wilderness training was already decided, Israel should have lived in thorough obedience in the wilderness,
holding onto God's covenant alone and the Word given to them. However, they were greatly shaken by the rebellion of Korah's party.
Korah's company was severely punished and annihilated, but due to this incident, Israel instead grumbled against God and opposed Moses
and Aaron. As a result, 14,700 people among the Israelites died from an acute plague.
1. Obedience to God-Established Authority Is Fundamental
1) Romans 13:1-2
2) The minimum fundamental for maintaining basic world order.
3) People of the world inherently want to live according to what is right in their own eyes.
4) Submitting to the established authority is obedience to God.
2. Speaking Through the Staffs of the Leaders of the 12 Tribes
1) God tells each tribal leader to take a staff.
2) During the Exodus, God had declared that He would accept the tribe of Levi.
3) The Israelites all knew this fact.
4) The next day, Aaron's staff budded, blossomed, and bore fruit.
3. He Had Aaron's Budding Staff Placed in the Most Holy Place.
1) The tribes of Israel had no choice but to follow the outcome that occurred before the ark of the covenant.
2) It was not punishment for the other 11 tribes, but a command to submit.
3) God's purpose was to prevent them from grumbling against God any longer.
4) God commanded them to keep Aaron's budding staff as a sign.
Conclusion: The Difference Between the Path of Death and the Path of Life
1) Israel, not having understood the path of life, lamented as in verse 12 of today's passage.
2) They did not stop at verse 12, but were afraid even up to verse 13.
3) They still cannot grasp even the basic truth.
4) Only by holding onto God's Word do the doors of life and blessing open for people.
At that time, Aaron's budding staff became a sign to Israel that God had established the priesthood. Today, we have come to accept
the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified and died and resurrected on the third day, as our Lord and Savior.
The only way we can approach God is through Jesus Christ, our true High Priest. As in verse 10 of today's passage,
it was God's will, the Christ covenant, to prevent us who are fallen in sin from dying.
However, the Israelites standing before the tabernacle, which symbolizes Christ, were afraid in their self-centered state.
Today, we have accepted the resurrected Jesus as our Lord and Savior and have been saved.
I pray that you will hold onto "3 todays" in Christ alone and be victorious.