If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

There is a powerful example in the Book of Numbers that illustrates how we should live as followers of Christ. Ironically, this example arose from a dispute among God's chosen people. They were arguing over who should hold the highest position.(1) In some ways, this mirrors the debate among Jesus’ disciples about who would be the greatest in the kingdom.(2) In both cases, selfish ambition reared its head, just as it often does in our own lives.

God decided to put an end to the controversy about who should serve as a priest on behalf of the people. Despite the judgments of death God had already rendered earlier in the passage, He now used a life-giving sign to settle the issue once and for all.

God instructed Moses to collect the staff of each leader from the twelve ancestral tribes, along with Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi. These thirteen staffs were placed overnight in the tabernacle. God promised that the staff of the man He had chosen would sprout buds, signifying His selection.

All of these staffs had been branches from trees, but now they were dry, lifeless sticks, severed from their source. A dried, separated branch cannot blossom or bear fruit. Only a living branch, connected to the tree, can do that. To the naked eye, these staffs looked alike. Some may have been shorter or longer, thinner or thicker, or made from different types of wood, with slightly different colors. Yet, all were crafted into staffs for a singular purpose—serving their masters.

Now, think about where these staffs were placed—in the Tabernacle, the earthly dwelling place of Almighty God, before the Ark of the Covenant, where God’s physical demonstration of His covenant with His people was kept. These were His people under His first covenant—the Law. As followers of Jesus, we are now God’s people under a new covenant, sealed by the shed blood of His only Son. That night, as the staffs lay in the presence of God before His covenant, the one He had chosen began to sprout, blossom, and bear fruit. But to blossom, the staff had to be in the right place and chosen by God.

This is a picture of what Jesus taught His disciples in John 15.(3) We have all been prepared for service by our Master. We may differ in size, shape, and appearance, but each of us is uniquely made for our Master’s purpose. Jesus called us branches—just like those sticks. He also said we must be properly positioned—in the presence of God, at His feet. This is what Jesus meant when He said we must abide in Him—surrendered, submitted, and resting at His feet.

Jesus told us that God the Father, the Vinedresser, has chosen us. It is by His choice that we are grafted into the Vine. Before this, we were dead, dry sticks. But now, grafted into the Vine (Jesus), we have been made living branches through which God bears fruit—just as He did through Aaron’s staff. This fruit points unmistakably to the work of the Father.

No one that day worshipped the staff. They understood that the fruit was produced by God. If we abide in Him as His chosen branches, the fruit in our lives will be recognized as His—because dry sticks don’t blossom.

It’s also noteworthy that Aaron’s staff had sprouts, blossoms, and almonds all at once. This again confirmed God’s work, as even a living branch can typically produce only one thing at a time. But God enabled all stages of growth to occur simultaneously. This shows us that God can produce fruit in varying stages of development through a living branch connected to the Vine. He is able to nourish the fruit for each stage, ensuring it grows as He intends.

Later, God instructed Moses to place Aaron’s budding staff inside the Ark of the Covenant, where the fruit remained as a lasting reminder of His work. In the same way, the fruit that God produces through our lives will be lasting, for His glory.

As you journey through life, remember: the staff that blossoms is the staff chosen by God and rightly positioned before Him. Be that staff—the one that blossoms for His glory!

* * * * *

You can read about God’s response to the Israelites in the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Numbers.

Portions of this post are excerpted from chapter 24 of my book, The Wandering Years. For more information about the book, click here.

(1)  Numbers 17:1-5, 8-10, 12-13 (NLT)

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take twelve wooden staffs, one from each of Israel's ancestral tribes, and inscribe each tribal leader's name on his staff. 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. Put these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark of the Covenant, where I meet with you. Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to this murmuring and complaining against you." …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, blossomed, and produced almonds! When Moses brought all the staffs out from the LORD's presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. And the LORD said to Moses: "Place Aaron's staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant as a warning to rebels….” Then the people of Israel said to Moses, "We are as good as dead! We are ruined! Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the LORD dies. We are all doomed!"

(2)  Luke 22:24-27

(3)  John 15:1-17

Copyright © 2024 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Pearl on Lightstock