The Unique Rod - Numbers 17

Numbers 16 is a long chapter which contains the account of a number of people who stood up against God’s chosen leaders, claiming to be something they were never called to be. God opened the ground, and those rebels fell down into the pit with all they had and perished. Some of those were also consumed by a fiery judgment from the Lord, and others died by a plague that was sent because of the rebellion.

God reminded those who came through the judgment of Numbers 16 that He had chosen whom He called, and they were to reverence His chosen one. They were instructed to take twelve rods and write the names of the princes of the twelve tribes on each rod. Aaron’s name was to be written on the rod for the tribe of Levi. These rods were to be laid up before the Lord, and the one rod that God chose to be the spiritual leader for Israel would bloom with flowers.

After doing what God had told them to do, the one rod that Israel was to reverence as God’s high priest and spiritual leader was Aaron’s rod. This position was to be passed down through the family. Aaron and his sons, who followed in the priesthood would be the interceders that would stand between man and God.

This rod is also a type of God’s chosen Son, our High Priest of the church age. Today, there is one and only one that God has chosen to represent mankind, and to stand as our Redeemer and Intercessor. “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased”, is the voice that was witnessed as it came from heaven.

1. The rod speaks of Christ’s identification. No other name under heaven by which man can be saved except His name.

2. It speaks of Christ’s humiliation. These rods had no beauty in them. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:2 that Jesus would be “as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him”.

3. It speaks of His crucifixion. These rods would have been cut down. Jesus was smitten for our sin on the cross.

4. It speaks of His resurrection. There was one rod that budded. It came to life after being smitten and brought forth fruit (Numbers 17:8). So did Christ!

5. It speaks of His ascension. After revealing God’s man through the rod that budded, that rod was carried back into the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. Jesus ascended back into heaven and into the presence of the Father.

Do not rebel against God’s Chosen One. He alone can present us righteous before God one day.