Numbers 17:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3You shall write Aaron’s name on Levi’s rod. There shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses. 4You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the covenant, where I meet with you. 5It shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you, cease from me.”

To settle the people's grumbling over who was truly chosen for the priesthood, God gives a sign. He has the leader of each tribe bring a rod, and lays them up before him, saying, It shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. And in the morning, Aaron's rod alone had budded, blossomed, and borne almonds, a dead stick brought to life, showing plainly whom God had chosen. God confirmed his own choice with an unmistakable sign, bringing life from a dead rod, and so silenced the grumbling. He vindicated whom he had chosen; there was no need for Aaron to strive for it, for God himself confirmed his choice.

Notice how God confirmed and vindicated his choice. The people had grumbled, questioning whom God had chosen; but God did not leave his choice to be settled by human argument. He gave a sign, causing Aaron's dead rod to bud and blossom, bringing life where there was none, to show plainly and unmistakably whom he had chosen. The vindication was God's doing, not Aaron's; Aaron did not have to prove himself or strive to establish his place. God confirmed his own choice, silencing the grumbling with a sign only he could give. The one God had chosen was vindicated by God himself, not by his own efforts to secure his place.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can trust God to confirm and vindicate whom he has chosen and called, without striving to prove ourselves. When our place or calling is questioned, when others grumble against us, we can feel we must strive to prove ourselves, to establish and defend our place; but God vindicated Aaron himself, with a sign only he could give, without Aaron's striving. God is able to confirm and vindicate those he has chosen, in his own way and time. When your place or calling is questioned, do not strive anxiously to prove yourself; trust God to confirm and vindicate whom he has chosen, as he made Aaron's rod bud. Trust God to confirm and vindicate you where he has chosen and called you, rather than striving anxiously to prove yourself, as God vindicated Aaron by making his dead rod bud and blossom; for God is able to confirm his own choice, bringing life where there was none, and we can rest in his vindication rather than laboring to secure our own place.

Lord, to settle the people's grumbling over who was truly chosen for the priesthood, you give a sign. You have the leader of each tribe bring a rod, and lay them up before you, saying, it shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. And in the morning, Aaron's rod alone had budded, blossomed, and borne almonds, a dead stick brought to life, showing plainly whom you had chosen. You confirmed your own choice with an unmistakable sign, bringing life from a dead rod, and so silenced the grumbling. Show me how you confirmed and vindicated your choice. The people had grumbled, questioning whom you had chosen; but you did not leave your choice to be settled by human argument. You gave a sign, causing Aaron's dead rod to bud and blossom, to show plainly and unmistakably whom you had chosen. The vindication was your doing, not Aaron's; Aaron did not have to prove himself or strive to establish his place. You confirmed your own choice, silencing the grumbling with a sign only you could give. Take that to my heart, for I can trust you to confirm and vindicate whom you have chosen and called, without striving to prove myself. When my place or calling is questioned, when others grumble against me, I can feel I must strive to prove myself, to establish and defend my place; but you vindicated Aaron yourself, with a sign only you could give. When my place or calling is questioned, keep me from striving anxiously to prove myself; help me trust you to confirm and vindicate whom you have chosen, Lord, as you made Aaron's rod bud and blossom.