A Blossoming Reminder....

After Korah’s rebellion cost almost 15,000 lives, God told Moses to get each leader of the 12 tribes to come to the Tabernacle, each bringing a staff engraved with their tribes name on it. Moses was to place the staffs in front of the ark of the covenant. God would then choose which tribe He has chosen to lead by having the staff blossom. The fact that a dead piece of wood would blossom is a miracle in and of itself. The next day Moses entered to find that Aaron’s staff is the one that blossomed. Not only did it produce blossoms, it also produced fruit, ripe almonds. The people clearly saw that God had chosen the Levites as priests (leaders), Aaron and Moses’ clan. Aaron’s staff was to be placed in front of the ark of the covenant as a reminder or warning to those who want to rebel against God. It’s purpose was to put an end to the complaining which would prevent further deaths. This is just another display of God’s Grace being lavished on His people. So the next time Aaron’s staff is brought up, in a quiz game or just in conversation, you’ll be able to answer the questions, and better yet, you’ll be able to tell the reason why it happened: God’s Grace on display. Another true story you can share, pointing others to Him. We all need reminders that God is in control. It’s our obligation to never forget this. We have to trust Him.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. 3 Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. 5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7 Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. 8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!9 When Moses brought all the staffs out from the Lord’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.” 11 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.12 Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined! 13 Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the Lord dies. Are we all doomed to die?” Numbers 17