A test with rods.
Once again, the Lord spoke to Moses telling him to speak to the children of Israel (v1-3) They were to get twelve rods, one for each tribe. They were to write their name on their rod and Aaron’s was to be written on Levi’s rod. A rod was a symbol of authority, and you may recall that Moses had a rod when he went before pharaoh in the early chapters of Exodus when he was asking pharaoh to let the people go.
They were to place the rods in the tabernacle and God will choose the rod that blossoms (v4,5). This was to show the people who God had chosen as leader, and this would rid God of the complaints against Moses and Aaron. Note that it would rid God of the complaints not necessarily Moses and Aaron. The blossom or budding of Aaron’s rod would be a miracle. It simply indicated that Aaron was God’s chosen person. One would think that those who complained or murmured would be convinced and silenced by a miracle but, sadly, that is rarely the case. However, God indicated that He would judge the complaints and in effect rid Himself (not necessarily us) of their murmurings.
They were to leave the rods overnight in the tabernacle and next day, they found that Aaron’s rod had budded even to the point of ripe almonds (v8,9) Amazing in one night – sprouted, buds, blossom, almonds and even ripe almonds, something that would normally take weeks or even months. Miraculous indeed. Surely, they will heed God’s message! Over history we have not been short of God’s evidence by ‘many infallible proofs’, but how often have we failed to heed them?
Moses was commanded that Aaron’s rod was to be kept in the ark of the covenant, (v10,11) together with the tablets on which the ten commandments, which they failed to keep, were written and the manna, which they complained about. These were reminders of Israel’s failure and sin. When God looked down from heaven into the ark, He saw emblems of their failure and Aaron’s rod, a reminder of their rebellion, but the ark was covered showing God’s atonement for their sin.
The children of Israel’s reaction were, “We are doomed, doomed!” (v12,13). They saw what God did to Korah and his followers and the plague killing over 14,000 of them. They were afraid to come near to the tabernacle even though God had showed them that Aaron was His chosen priest to come near.
Of ourselves we cannot approach a holy God, but we are encouraged that we come through the blood of Jesus. We can draw near without fear. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
