Falaite Sune 25, 2021
pea tā kuo muka ‘a e tokotoko ‘o ‘Ēlone
the staff of Aaron for
the house of Levi had sprouted
* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the
Whole Bible*
That the murmuring of the
people against the divine government was an evil thing is emphasized by the
fact that a supernatural sign was given in final vindication of Aaron's
position. The reason for giving the sign was declared in the words, "I will make to cease from Me the
murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you."
The spirit of rebellion manifested
itself afterward in different ways and for different reasons, but it seems
probable that any complaint against the rights of the God-appointed leadership
of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron ceased at this time.
The sign granted was simple,
but it was luminously suggestive. Twelve
princes representing the twelve tribes were commanded to bring rods having
their names inscribed on them and to lay them before the Lord. Aaron's rod budded, blossomed, and bore
fruit. These effects were patiently the result of divine action, and thus men
were taught that the position of Aaron was not due to anything inherent in him
but to the direct appointment and equipment of Jehovah.
*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide to Numbers *
V. 8-9 - Pea ‘i he pongipongi hake na‘e
hū ‘a Mōsese ki he Tēniti Fakamo‘oni‘anga; pea tā kuo muka ‘a e tokotoko ‘o
‘Ēlone, ‘a ia na‘e tu‘u ma‘a e fale ‘o Līvai, pea kuo talamuka, pea kuo moto ‘o
fisi, pea fuhi ai ‘a e ngaahi ‘ai kuo motu‘u. Pea ‘omi ki tu‘a ‘e Mōsese ‘a e
ngaahi tokotoko mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Eiki ki ha‘a ‘Isileli kātoa: pea nau vakai, ‘o
to‘o takitaha hono tokotoko.
V. 8-9 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.
Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of
Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff.
This was a place where a
"small" miracle would have been convincing. After all, God could have
merely made a little green sprout come forth from Aaron's rod alone, and that
would have - or should have - been enough.
But God gave, as in the words
of Acts 1:3, many infallible proofs, to demonstrate His approval of Aaron's
leadership. God gives us more than enough evidence; our problem is a lack of
willingness to see what He has made clear.
"We are probably to understand that some parts
were in bud, other in bloom and others had fruited." (Wenham) Fruit from a godly leader may come in all different stages.
There is nothing remarkable
about a piece of wood with buds, blossoms, or fruit on it. But a piece of dead
wood with all these things appearing in one night after sitting in a tent is
remarkable. "Miracles in the Bible
are often of this sort: natural events in unnatural conditions, timing, and
placement." (Allen)
Behold, the rod of Aaron, of
the house of Levi, had sprouted: God's choice of Aaron's rod did not mean that
Aaron was the most spiritual man in the nation. God's chosen leaders will have
godly character according to the principles of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus
1:5-9, but it wasn't a contest to determine the most spiritual man among them.
It also did not mean that
Aaron had not and would not sin or fail significantly. God's chosen leaders may
fail (we do not believe in the Roman Catholic idea of "papal" or
"pastoral" infallibility), but must set things right when they fail.
It meant Aaron was God's chosen priest,
and the nation was required to recognize it.
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