Numbers 17:1-10, “The LORD spoke to
Moses, saying, (2) "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, (3)
and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one
staff for the head of each fathers' house.
(4) Then you shall deposit them
in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. (5)
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." (6) Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all
their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers'
houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. (7)
And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the
testimony. (8) 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. (9) Then Moses brought out all the staffs from
before the LORD to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took
his staff. (10) And the LORD said to Moses, "Put back
the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels,
that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.”
In the past few chapters we have seen the leadership of Moses and
Aaron questioned several times. Their positions have been questioned beyond the
point of general criticism, to threatening their very lives. The latest of
these was Korah’s rebellion, which resulted in the severe punishment of God.
Here in Numbers 17, God once more confirms Aaron’s role and position
and does it in such a manner that it puts it beyond doubt. The twelve staffs would
have been dry and well-worn sticks. The possibility of these staffs growing
once more, sprouting, budding and producing fruit was next to none. In the
minds of all the men it would be beyond impossible! But as we constantly learn
in the Scriptures, with God the impossible is entirely possible. God works the
impossible so as to make is abundantly clear, beyond all doubt that Aaron is
His appointed man for the office, position and work that he has been set aside
for.
The manner which God confirms that Aaron is the appointed man makes it
clear, leaving no room for chance, luck or mere coincidence. Aaron’s staff
doesn’t just have a few shoots or sprouts on it. We are told that is sprouted,
blossomed and produced fruit all within the space of one night. This staff had
not been planted in the ground for weeks on end and specially cultivated, nor
had it been swapped out for another one. Each man carved his own name into his
staff and then Moses put them in the tabernacle, in the holy place. No one was
permitted to enter into the holy place, therefore they could not be tampered
with. When Aaron’s staff was brought out along with the rest, there could be no
doubt or debate that this was God’s doing.
After all the grumbling, criticisms and threats, the matter is finally
settled, Aaron is the man appointed by God. Aaron’s staff is then placed
alongside the Ark of the Covenant, to be a permanent reminder to the people of
Israel, not to question God’s appointments.
How does this passage apply to us, what can we learn? We no longer
have a priesthood, nor do we use staffs, so how does this chapter speak to us?
Numbers 17 challenges us to accept and trust in God’s will and
purposes. All too often we question God’s will, wisdom and purposes, we presume
that we know better than God. We may even grumble and complain against God. One
of the areas in which we may struggle with this most, is how God chooses to
use, or not use us, the work that God calls on us to do, or does not call us
to. Just because we desire after something, want to do a particular thing, or
think we are well suited for a task or position, doesn’t mean that it is God’s
will for us to do it.
Permit me to give an example from my own life.
As my high school years drew to an end, I had to decide what career I
wanted to pursue. For me it was an easy, straight-forward decision. I wanted to
be an emergency doctor, it had been my desire to go into trauma medicine for
years. It excited me, I believed I could do it and do it well, and I believed
it was the right thing for me to do. Yet I am now a pastor, I never went to
medical school, instead I ended up at Bible college! How did that happen?
I took a gap year after I finished school and it was during the course
of this year that God sought to show me what His desire was for my life, and it
was not what I desired. God was calling me into full-time ministry, to serve
Him in His Church. For months I argued with God, I complained, grumbled and
questioned God’s wisdom. I reluctantly went to Bible College, I didn’t want to
be there, I was miserable. I kept asking God, why He was taking what I wanted to
do most away from me. It seemed cruel and unfair. Over time I came to learn
that this clearly was God’s will for my life, and the only reason as to why I
was feeling so miserable and discontent was because I did not want to submit to
God’s will. I wanted to do what I wanted, I presumed I knew what was best for
my life. God had to deal with my proud, stubborn and hard-heart, which He did.
It was painful, it was difficult, but eventually I submitted, and God’s grace
continued to abound to me.
It has been over 17 years since God began to call me to a path,
different to the one I wanted to walk. I have come to understand and even
rejoice in the fact that whilst God may not have given me what I wanted, what I
thought I could and should do and be, what I thought I would be suited to do
and was best for my life, He has given me something far, far greater. God’s
will and way has proved itself to be wise, good and best for my life.
We need to learn to submit to God’s will, even when it is contrary to
what we want. We need to accept that fact that there will be times when God
will not give us what we want or desire, as He has something better for us in
store, that which will be for our good. The men in Numbers 16 and 17 wanted an
office and position they thought they were entitled to, possibly even suited
for, more suited for it that Aaron was. They questioned God’s wisdom and will,
instead of submitting to God’s plans and purposes. God had to confront them on
their pride, arrogance and self-righteousness, God had to humble them until
they submitted.
Let us not have to learn these lessons the hard way, instead we need
to be quick to heed, submit to and faithfully follow after God’s will, purposes
and plans, for they are given to us in the highest wisdom and for our greatest
good.
All wise God, our Sovereign Ruler, the
Leader and Guide of our live, the One who has all of our days planned out. We
thank You that You lead, guide and plan our lives with that which is wise and
good. Thank You that You don’t simply give us what we want, but at times
withhold them or give us something else. Help us to submit to Your will and
plan, instead of grumbling, questioning or complaining. May we understand that
our lives are not about what we want, but about doing that which You would have
us do. Keep us humble and in submission to Your will, for there we will find
peace, joy, hope and eternal blessing. Amen.
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