“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers’ house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff, and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers’ house. Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.
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. And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so he did.
And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?” ”
Have you ever heard someone express the feeling that God must be like some old man (usually with a long white beard) in the sky playing chess—and the pieces are us! This conception of God is more common than you might think (or you might be thinking you agree!). But what does the Bible say? How does God deal with his people? Numbers 17:1-13 provides an answer in three parts, the first of which we will see today.
Upon reading this chapter of the Bible, one can see that the Lord deals mercifully with his people (Num. 17:1-7). Even in verse 1, the LORD speaks shows God’s infinite mercy. The events of Numbers 16 would lead the active reader to believe God should not speak. The immense sin of rebellion raging through the people gives God his “old man in the sky” opportunity! But God is not an old man in the sky, and God reveals his merciful character to his sinful people rather than knocking over “pieces on a board.”
This infinite mercy is also seen in vv. 2-7, but it can be a hidden mercy to us now—at least, it can be hidden to us if we aren’t actively reading the Scriptures God has given us! Notice that in Numbers 16:41, all the congregation grumbled. Notice also that in Numbers 16:49, some of the people are judged. But not all. Now, instead of God withholding mercy to those remaining, his desire is to show them his will and way, that they might faithfully follow him in righteousness. This is what’s happening in Numbers 17. God is dealing mercifully with his people!
Alongside this “hidden mercy” is the actual content of the chapter itself. These verses are explaining the staff test. It seems so foreign and miraculous, but the purpose and goal of this test can be found in v. 5.
Purpose: And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout (Num. 17:5a). With purpose, God notifies his people of his sovereign decision. He will choose his representation on earth.
Goal: Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you (Num. 17:5b). Just as the purpose was straightforward, so the goal is piercingly deliberate. The people of God had a problem that needed to be dealt with (we still do!): grumbling. Over and over, God’s people are described as a grumbling people. And what is grumbling? At the very least, it is an authority issue. Though we would never say it like this (we get close!), grumbling goes something like this: I know better than God, so he must be wrong. And I must be right! It doesn’t feel right when I write it, it doesn’t sound right when I say it, but nevertheless, we embody this in life as persons, people, and societies. For those believing in the Lord Jesus, this is no surprise. We recognize this—feel this. But how do we stop grumbling?
Wouldn’t it be nice if STOP IT! worked? But what happens when it doesn’t? What happens when those secret sins, dark sins, sins in your head, and sins that eat away at your assurance and belief creep and crawl in, near, and around you? What happens when we can’t do it on our own? It is in that moment that we need a miracle (which is part 2!).
For today, though, will you ponder with me on God’s infinite mercy to his people? Grumble, grumble as much as we do, God’s mercy is still extended to you!
Our God is so good to us! He does not abandon us; rather, he constantly reveals himself, teaches us, and keeps us in his mercy and grace. Be blessed as you ponder on these things today.