“And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.”
This verse comes from the context of a fascinating story in the book of Numbers. The Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after being liberated from slavery in Egypt, and they were facing various challenges and rebellions along the way. In this particular account, the people had been grumbling against Moses and Aaron, questioning their authority and complaining about the priesthood.
To address this discontent, God instructed Moses to gather twelve staffs, one from each tribe, and place them before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting. The staff that sprouted buds and produced almonds would signify the chosen priesthood, proving God’s selection and silencing the grumbling.
Moses followed God’s command precisely, as we see in Numbers 17:11. He collected the staffs, including Aaron’s staff for the tribe of Levi, and placed them in the tabernacle as instructed. Then, Moses waited to witness the outcome.
The subsequent verses, Numbers 17:12-13, reveal the remarkable outcome of this test:
“And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.”
This miraculous sign confirmed Aaron’s priesthood, chosen by God, and silenced the doubts and complaints of the Israelites. It served as a tangible and undeniable proof of divine selection.
The overarching lesson we can glean from Numbers 17:11 is the importance of obedience to God’s commands. Moses faithfully carried out God’s instructions, without hesitation or alteration. His obedience demonstrated his trust in God’s wisdom and authority.
Moreover, this account highlights God’s power to perform miracles to establish His chosen leaders and silence opposition. The budding of Aaron’s staff was a clear manifestation of God’s sovereignty and a reminder to the Israelites that they should submit to His appointed leaders.
Overall, Numbers 17:11 reminds us of the significance of following God’s commands faithfully and trusting in His divine guidance. It teaches us to rely on God’s power rather than our own abilities and to respect the leaders that God has chosen for His purposes.
