Links for today’s readings:
Read: Numbers 17-18 Listen: (6:58) Read: Galatians 6 Listen: (2:18)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Read: Numbers 19 Listen: (3:39) Read: 1 Thessalonians 1 Listen: (1:27)
Read: Numbers 20 Listen: (4:15) Read: 1 Thessalonians 2 Listen: (2:53)
Scripture Focus: Numbers 17.1-8
1 The 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. 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.
Reflection: Life-Giving Leadership
By John Tillman
Jesus said a wicked and adulterous generation seeks signs. (Matthew 16.4)
That is certainly true about the generation of Israelites that continually rebelled against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Sign after sign they experienced, and yet, rebellion after rebellion occurred. These rebellions varied in severity from the constant annoyance of simple grumbling up to treasonous and violent threats and actions. Centuries later, Asaph described them as a stubborn and rebellious generation with disloyal hearts and unfaithful spirits. (Psalm 78.8)
God’s responses to rebellions also varied in severity. Sometimes dramatic signs brought people in line. Sometimes God used violence or plagues against the hard-hearted rebels, just as he did against the hard-hearted Egyptians he freed them from.
In Numbers 17, God sought another sign to cement Moses and Aaron’s leadership in the Israelites’ minds and prevent future rebellions and punishments. God chose a contest pitting Aaron’s staff against other tribal leaders’ staffs.
God previously used Aaron’s staff in a contest with Pharaoh’s magicians. Aaron’s staff became a snake. Egyptian magicians matched Aaron, making their staffs into snakes, however, Aaron’s snake outmatched theirs. It killed and ate them.
This time, God caused Aaron’s staff to bring life instead of take it. God said the staff of the man he chose would sprout. Aaron’s staff sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced almonds.
Aaron’s snake-killing staff became a life-giving tree. It stood between the people and the presence of God to remind them that Aaron was the priest through whom God chose to bring life.
Many leaders are contesting for our support and attention. Some claim to be “sent by God.” Jesus taught that we would know false prophets by their fruit. (Matthew 7.15-23) Let us put such leaders to the test. Are their words and actions a bludgeoning stick or a blossoming tree? Does the pattern of their life and leadership produce life or death? Would you want your children to emulate them?
Let us also test ourselves. Jesus is our snake-crushing, life-giving priest. Aaron’s priesthood was exclusive. We are included in Jesus’ new covenant priesthood. He is the true vine, connecting us to God’s presence. As priests under Jesus, we are called to blossom like Aaron’s staff, producing fruit and bringing life to those around us.
Be a life-giving leader. Sprout, bud, blossom, and produce fruit, leading people to Jesus’ presence. Let us be the sign people need to believe the gospel.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. — 2 Corinthians 4.6
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime
by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: Splintering or Blossoming Staff?
What staff are you leaning…Is it an alliance? A person? A party? Every other staff will splinter. Only Jesus will blossom.
Read more: Becoming Firstborns
As servants of the snake-crushing priest, we have no battle to fight—only a victory to announce.