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Youth Worship 31st May 2025 : Behold, the rod of Aaron

Text: Numbers 17
31 May 2025

Youth Worship Service Saturday, 31 May 2025
Title: Behold, the rod of Aaron
Text: Numbers 17

 

INTRODUCTION

1. To whom did God speak recorded in Numbers 17?

a) Those who complained had already been dealt with
b) He had a word for the children of Israel who survived God’s judgments

2. Understanding what these people were like

a) They may not have been overtly hostile but they could still pose a threat
b) The Korah incident (Numbers 16) had left a huge scar
c) God referred to them as rebels
i. They were rebellious and stubborn (Psalm 78:8)
ii. These rebels refused to accept the judgments of God
iii. They harboured ill feelings towards God and His tabernacle

THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD PLANNED TO RID HIMSELF OF THE COMPLAINTS OF THE PEOPLE

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi.
For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house. 4 Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.” 6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

Numbers 17:1-7

 

1. The significance of the twelve rods

a) They represented the tribes
b) They represented the heads or leaders from the respective tribes
c) They represented their authority as leaders

2. Specific mention of Aaron’s name

a) God singled out Aaron from the tribe of Levi by name
b) Moses was to write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi
c) For the other tribes, Moses was to write the name of whoever gave of their rod

3. The selection made by God

a) God would identify a man and that man’s rod would blossom
b) This would become a very clear way of identifying the man chosen by God
c) In this manner, God would rid Himself of their complaints made against Moses

THE MEANING OF THE SIGN GIVEN BY GOD

 

8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. 10 And the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did.

Numbers 17:8-11

1. Beholding the rod of Aaron

a) Moses witnessed something amazing and extraordinary
i. Of all the rods placed in the tabernacle, Aaron’s had sprouted and put forth buds
ii. It had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds
b) All the children of Israel beheld this too
i. They looked at all the rods after Moses brought them out from before God
ii. It was certainly obvious that Aaron’s rod was clearly different from their rods

2. Aaron’s rod was to be kept as a sign against the rebels

a) The sign of Aaron’s rod brought with it a message against the rebels
i. Having beheld the rod, they also needed to understand the message behind it
ii. They needed to learn that Aaron was God’s chosen man
iii. The serious consequence of death would follow if complaining didn’t cease
iv. Moses was to use this sign and make their complaining to cease
b) The sign of Aaron’s rod would serve as a memorial
i. To help the children of Israel remember
ii. To help the children of Israel keep hold of this vital lesson
iii. To enable them to recount these lessons to the next generation

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MADE NO ATTEMPT TO LEARN OR CHANGE

12 So the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Surely we die, we perish, we all perish!
13 Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD must die. Shall we all utterly die?”

Numbers 17:12-13

1. God had done His part

a) He made the lesson clear for the people
b) He provided them with meaning and understanding
c) He helped them to remember this lesson

2. But the people failed to do their part

a) The rebels
i. They were supposed to put their complaints away from God
ii. They failed to make any response
b) The children of Israel
i. They spoke out against God and His tabernacle by casting aspersions
ii. They did not humbly accept that they were wrong
iii. They refused to cease from their complaining and contending (cf. Numbers 20)
iv. They did not repent and turn from their wickedness

RELEVANT LESSONS WE CAN LEARN

1. Let us not remain in our sins

a) Let us not be rebellious and recalcitrant
b) Let us not repeat the same sins
c) Let us not refuse to change

2. Appropriate responses to help us address the problem of sin in our lives

a) Behold what God is teaching us
b) Find out what is the intended meaning of each lesson
c) Remember these lessons by keeping them in our hearts
d) Seek God for change