Chief of Staffs (Numbers 17)

"A picture is worth a thousand words," so the old adage goes.  It was certainly true back in the days of Moses and Aaron.

I rather love how God made His picture for them in order to cause the people of Israel to cease their grumblings about who made Aaron boss of the priestly line.

The result was so astounding!  God never works in half measures.  He goes beyond what we can ask or ever imagine.  He did this for the man He chose to be the high priest of Israel and then to continue his line (see Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV).

The experiment, well, to God it was not an experiment but to the onlookers who must have been eagerly looking over each others' shoulders in anticipation to see conclusive evidence and data it was.  And what did they see?

Aaron's staff had been presented before the LORD at the Tent of Meeting along with those belonging to the chief of each tribe of Israel.

"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" (Numbers 17:8).

Don't you just love that!

Aaron's staff didn't just sprout, it produced buds, blossoms AND ripe almonds!  Do you see that God doesn't operate in half measures!?  The very definite conclusive proof that God had chosen Aaron was obvious to one and all.  It was indisputable!

No doubt when we see a believer in a position of leadership who appears to not be doing what's right in God's eyes, we may need to confront but lovingly, carefully, entreating as if they are a father (or mother) and with the tesitmony of two or three witnesses (see 1 Timothy 1:5 and Matthew 18:16).  May the motivation for so doing not be one of jealousy and desire to usurp and replace with ourself as did the tribal chiefs of Israel in Moses' day.

Beware when we want to dispute God's choice and leadership roles.  He'll show us His uncontestable will.  The staff became a kept sign against those who rebelled (see verse 10).

I believe we each have our role in the running of a church or assembly of believers.  Each needs to use their respective gifts, without coveting someone elses, in order to build each other up to maturity in Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-13).

May we speak truth in love* when the need arises.  The ultimate Chief of Staffs is Christ Himself (see Ephesians 4:15-16).  

Can you get the picture?

                                                      ~ERC  May 2024~

Based on Numbers 17 (ESV).

Sing, Speak the Truth in Love, along with Christian Worship Song

* From biblical counseling.com How to Speak Truth in Love article ... "Speaking the truth in love is speaking that which is doctrinally correct and that which proceeds from a biblically committed life to a person who is in need of correction."