Aaron's Rod That Budded

by G. Prasher. | Category: The Tabernacle | Jan 1960

The reader of the Old Testament does well to be on the lookout for shadows of the Lord Jesus, as these abound in so many parts of the Scriptures, and afford much joy to all who with the Psalmist can say, I rejoice at Thy word,

As one that findeth great spoil" (Psalm 119. 162).

The account concerning Aaron's rod is given in Numbers 16 and 17, and we recommend the reading of both chapters with this article. A very sad story of rebellion is recorded. Korah, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men, and rose up against Moses, with two hundred princes of the congregation, and assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. Their complaint was, "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

Moses and Aaron had been divinely called. The diffidence of Moses when sent by the LORD from Horeb to undertake the great responsibility placed upon him (Exodus 3) comes readily to the mind; as also does the verse in Hebrews 5.4, " And no man taketh the honour unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron." It was therefore no small matter for a section of the congregation to rise up against those men whom the LORD had called, and appointed to serve Him in an exalted sphere.

Let us look more closely into the story. Korah was of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Kohath. Highly favoured indeed he was! Not only was he among those who had been chosen to serve in connexion with the tabernacle, but the family of the Kohathites were privileged in carrying the furniture and vessels of the sanctuary upon their shoulders. Evidently Korah was not satisfied. Instead of being happy in the service the LORD had bestowed upon him, envy came in and led him to covet the places occupied by Moses and Aaron. Gripped by jealousy he was soon found murmuring in the ears of others, and spreading his supposed grievance. How true, as James says in his letter, " Where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed" (3.16)!

It should be remembered, too, that Korah's family pitched on the south side of the tabernacle, and that there dwelt also the sons of Reuben. Was it as a result of this that Dathan, Abiram and On, the sons of Reuben, were involved? It would seem to be so. "Evil company doth corrupt good manners." What a blessing it would have been to these sons of Reuben had they closed their ears to the murmurings of their neighbours! Let all of us take heed what we hear. Murmurings still abound. Let us be on guard against being led into revolt against the rule of the LORD, through whisperings directed against those entrusted with responsibility by the LORD.

"Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer."

They envied Moses also in the camp,

And Aaron the saint of the LORD " (Psalm 106.16).

The priesthood was given to Aaron as a service of gift, and to his sons with him; and of the Levites God said, "Behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given unto the LORD, to do the service of the tent of meeting" (Numbers 18.6.). Korah sought the priesthood; Dathan and Abiram, whose hearts were back in Egypt, saw only death before them in the wilderness, and Moses making himself a prince over them! How true is the proverb,

"Envy is the rottenness of the bones " (14. 30)!

It even led the leaders of Israel to deliver up the Son of God to death. But what did the LORD think of the whole scene? His glory appeared at the door of the tent of meeting, and He was heard calling on Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from among the congregation, that He might consume them in a moment. "For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11.29).

A NEW THING

Those who offered incense were devoured by fire, that others not of the priesthood might learn not to presume, and a new thing was performed by the Loan at the dwelling of Korah and the sons of Reuben. "The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, arid their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly."

THE SONS OF KORAH

Possibly, as we read the story, we expect to hear nothing further concerning Korah; yet it will readily occur to the mind that we have a number of Psalms (42 to 49) which bear the title, "Of the sons of Korah." How comes it that in David's day there are still found some of Korah's posterity? The answer is given in Numbers 26.11, where we read, "Notwithstanding the sons of Korah died not." It seems quite clear that wisdom was with these men, and when Moses spoke, saying, "Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram," they heeded the warning message, and moved to a place of safety.

"A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself:

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it" (Proverbs 22.8).

Lovely it is to think of these sons of Korah as snatched from the jaws of hell, and brought into the house of the LORD to sing His praises. We too can sing,

"How sovereign, wonderful and free

His love from all eternity!

He plucked us from the jaws of hell:

Christ Jesus hath done all things well."

Is it any wonder, then, that Korah's sons should long after God? As the hart panteth after the water brooks they panted or thirsted for God, for the living God (Psalm 42.1, 2). In Psalm 45 they are found inditing a goodly matter, as they speak the things concerning the King. They had found One fairer than the children of men.

THE MAN WHOM I SHALL CHOOSE

The judgement on those who offered incense, and on those whom the earth swallowed up, was followed by a plague upon the congregation because they murmured against Moses and against Aaron; but Aaron, as bidden by Moses, stood between the dead and the living with the censer of sweet incense, and made atonement for the people. Thereafter the LORD said, "Take... rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes, ... twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: and thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud: and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you." The result was that "the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bare ripe almonds." When the children of Israel had seen the result, the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; ... Thus did Moses: as the LORD commanded him, so did he."

PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING

Moses as prophet and king is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ; and Aaron the high priest of Israelis a type of our High Priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. As prophet the Lord Jesus came down from God to speak God's message to men on earth. This He did faithfully, and He is called by God "The Faithful Witness" (Revelation 1.5). As High Priest He has gone back to God, there to speak to God on our behalf. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus; who was faithful to Him that appointed Him." We do well to consider Him. The Prophet is what He was: the Priest is what He is: as King He will be manifested one day soon, when He comes to reign on earth. With God He is elect (chosen), precious. This is the statement of the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 2, verse 4. But what are the words that immediately precede? Alas! that they are what they are, but we know them to be true, namely, rejected indeed of men! Moses and Aaron, rejected by Korah and his company, are typical of the Lord, Jesus as rejected by men. Aaron (with Moses) as the man of God's choice presents a type of Him whom God has chosen, and whom He has laid in Zion, a Chief Corner Stone, elect, precious. "He is the Stone," said Peter, "which was set at naught of you the builders, which was made the Head of the corner" (Acts 4. 11).

BUDS, BLOSSOMS AND RIPE ALMONDS

When the rod of Aaron was laid down in the sanctuary it was a lifeless rod. Reverently we recall that the Lord Jesus lay in the grave.

"Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour!

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!"

In the morning Aaron's rod was seen a living thing, with buds and blossoms and ripe almonds, and we are thus directed to think of Him who rose again.

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes:

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives for ever with His saints to reign,

He arose

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

The ripe almonds are suggestive of firstfruits. The almond tree very early in the spring sends forth its buds and blossoms. How fitting this is as a shadow of Christ! He, risen from the dead, is become "the firstfruits of them that are asleep. For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order (division or legion) : Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's at His coming " (1 Corinthians 15.20, 23).

The Lord is risen indeed!

Hades has lost its prey;

And with Him all the ransomed seed

Shall reign in endless day."

Aaron's rod was put back before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion. There in the brightness of the sanctuary those buds, blossoms and ripe almonds bore witness to the divine choice-that Aaron was called of God, and served in harmony with the divine will. In the sanctuary above, in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man, is a High Priest who sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary. This fact should silence every murmur, and should quell each rebellious thought. Of Him it is written,

"Thou hast ascended on high,

Thou host led Thy captivity captive;

Thou hast received gifts among men,

Yea, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell with them " (Psalm 68.18).

G. Prasher. | Jan 1960
The Tabernacle