The Power of Resurrection

Numbers 17:1–5 (ESV) 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.”

The way God chooses to silence the grumbling of the people is quite interesting. Instead of more plagues and judgment, there is a simple event whereby a miraculous resurrection of a formerly dead piece of wood sprouts and bears almonds. It's about as clear a foreshadowing of Christ as you can get. But there's lots more to see in this picture. 

First, we have come to realize that grumbling is the standard condition of most men's hearts. The Israelites complained about food, water, Moses, God's promise, God's timing, God's judgment and even God's leadership. Nothing, it appears, has silenced them. They complain as if complaining was as common as breathing. But yet, the resurrection of the dead piece of wood (Aaron's staff) is going to turn their hearts by the end of this event. 

Second, we see that God chooses the man. God has appointed Aaron over Israel as the High Priest. God has appointed Jesus Christ over us as our Great High Priest and final judge. There is no other name by which men can be saved. Oh how much the state of man longs for this to be different. Humans have invented gods since God created humans. But God chooses the man by which salvation will come through perfect mediation. 

Third, when the staff is laid in the tent of meeting before the testimony (the Law), it does far more than sprout. Notice what happens:

Numbers 17:8 (ESV) 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.

The almond tree was the model for the fabrication of the lamp stand. The staff of Aaron became a life giving Almond tree bearing fruit that was good to eat and reminded the Israelites of the light that shone in the tabernacle where God dwelt!

Finally, notice the response the budding and blossoming of this staff produces:

Numbers 17:12–13 (ESV) And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?”

The people have a change of heart before God when the living staff is presented to the people. What the judgments and threats of God's wrath don't do, the new life can do! There is something powerful about the resurrection that makes men's hearts change. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is STILL the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. Something happens in the heart of those who hear this message. It is the foolish message of the Cross that is the wisdom of God to make men live. What a mystery! But what a profound tool in the hands of the Church. We do not overcome by our wisdom and intellect but by the Word of our Testimony and the blood of the lamb!

God is teaching us 2000 years later to trust HIS message. It is not in our methods or delivery, it is in the reality of a LIVING Christ that makes the captive sinner and reformed saint.