23 October Numbers 17

God's faithfulness

Numbers 17:1-8 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites. ”So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law. The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

Aaron had no reason to feel proud of being chosen by God. He made the golden calf when the people pressured him. Instead of owning up to his mistake, he blamed the people when Moses confronted him. God later showed that He would have destroyed Aaron if Moses hadn't prayed for him. After Aaron’s sons died because they disobeyed God, Aaron disobeyed God again by not eating a sacrifice in the sanctuary as instructed. He also ignored God’s command not to mourn the death of his sons. Aaron, out of pride and jealousy, even spoke against Moses. He only repented after seeing Miriam punished—a punishment he deserved. God does not change. He is full of grace. Have you thanked Him for the mercy and grace He has shown you?

God made a special agreement with the tribe of Levi. They were to serve as His priests, and instead of receiving their land, their inheritance was the Lord Himself. Through the rod, God showed He keeps His promises. Ezekiel 20:37 ( ESV) “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.”

Psalms 119:89-90 (ESV) “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast”. The Hebrew word translated “faithfulness” means “steadfastness, firmness, fidelity.” Confirmed by Malachi 3:6 (ESV) "For I the Lord do not change” Thus faith means trusting in who God is, even before we see how He will work things out. He has given us His Word, and His promises remain true. As we see Him fulfil His promises, our trust in His faithfulness grows stronger. Just like how we trust people more when interacting with them daily, our trust in God grows as we get to know Him better. When we know God, we trust Him, and the more we know Him, the more we trust Him. Even when we don’t understand complex situations, we can rest knowing God is always good.

In conclusion, Numbers 17 is a powerful reminder of God's unchanging faithfulness. By causing Aaron's staff to bud, blossom, and produce almonds, God not only silenced the

Israelites' complaints but also confirmed His choice of Aaron and the Levites as His priests. This miraculous event points to God's sovereignty and ability to fulfil His promises, even when we face doubt or rebellion.

Just as Aaron had no reason to boast in his selection, we must remember that our standing with God is due to His grace and not our merit. God's faithfulness endures through all generations (Psalm 119:89-90), and He remains unchanging (Malachi 3:6). As we reflect on His steadfastness, we are encouraged to trust Him more deeply, knowing that He will fulfil His Word in His perfect time and way. Therefore, faith depends not on our understanding of the circumstances but on our trust in God's unchanging character.

Let us take time to thank God for His mercy and grace in our lives, knowing that, just as He did with Aaron, He continues to work out His perfect will in our lives—faithfully, firmly, and without change.