Numbers

Numbers 17: God shows whom He has chosen

Begin in prayer

Before looking at the rod that bore almonds overnight, let us ask God to make us ready to receive His choice. Pray for reverence before His holiness and trust in His Son.

For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession.

Psalm 135:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to receive Your choice with humble trust, and show us the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God tells Moses to collect twelve rods from Israel’s leaders, writing a name on each. Aaron’s name goes on the rod for Levi, and all are placed before God in the Tent of Meeting. The next morning Aaron’s rod has sprouted, blossomed and borne ripe almonds. The people see the rods, and each leader takes his own back. God commands that Aaron’s rod be kept as a sign against rebellion, to stop the people’s complaints and guard their lives. Israel then cries out in fear about dying when they approach God’s tent.

As you read Numbers 17, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God makes His choice known so His people may stop rebelling and live.

After the deadly rebellion, God gives Israel a sign they can see and keep. Each leader brings a rod with his name on it, and Aaron’s name is on Levi’s rod. God promises that the rod of His chosen man will bud. By morning Aaron’s rod has buds, blossoms and ripe almonds, life where no growing tree stands. God has answered the challenge to Aaron’s priesthood without another plague. The rod must remain before His testimony as a warning against rebellion, so the people will not die. Their frightened question about approaching the tent shows why they need the way God Himself provides.

How does Numbers 17 show us that God makes His choice known so His people may stop rebelling and live?

God’s choice is shown by the life He gives.

All the rods are laid before God under the same command. Only Aaron’s rod comes out with buds, flowers and ripe almonds. The people can see that God has chosen Aaron, beyond any claim a leader might make for himself.

God gives a lasting warning to guard His people’s lives.

The rod is kept before the testimony as a sign against rebellion. God wants the murmuring to end so His people will not die. Receiving His chosen priest is part of receiving His care.

God’s holy presence must be approached in the way He gives.

Israel fears that everyone who approaches the tent will perish. They have seen what rebellion brings, and the rod calls them to stop it. God’s appointed priesthood gives them a guarded way to live near Him.

Memorise

It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud.

Numbers 17:5

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what do I resist in God’s word that I need to bring to Jesus?

Aaron’s rod “bore ripe almonds”. God brings life to the rod and shows Israel which priest He has chosen. He gives this sign to end rebellion and guard His people from death.

We need a living Priest who can deal with our guilt before God. Jesus bore the punishment of His people at the cross, then rose from the grave. His sacrifice is finished and fully sufficient for their salvation. Hebrews 7 verses 24 and 25 explains that He lives forever to intercede for those who come through Him.

So come to Him, turning from your sin and trusting Jesus. The living Savior gives forgiveness to those who draw near through His blood. Please receive God’s appointed way with hope. Christ has defeated death and remains the Priest His people need forever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God’s chosen Savior lives, and they must come through Jesus instead of trusting their own way. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for making His choice known and guarding His people from death, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

John 5:26

Father, thank You for showing Israel the priest You chose and for giving the living Savior. Please turn us from rebellion and teach each of us to trust Jesus. Help us hear Your warnings with care and come to You through the Son whose saving work is complete. Amen.