Christ in all the scriptures Aaron's rod that budded

 Christ in all the scriptures 

Aaron's rod that budded      Numbers 17

Despite all that had happened the murmuring continued, and the Lord determined to bring it to an end.  He introduced the test of the rods.  The chapter is all about Aaron's rod, that budded in the holy place.  The rod is a rich symbol in scripture, encompassing authority, discipline, guidance, protection, and judgment.  It is interesting to trace the usage of bible words.  The rod was a kind of walking stick, useful also to ward off enemies troubling the flock, as well as guiding them to new pastures.  When called to Egypt, Moses' rod took on miraculous qualities, and was used by God to bring the supernatural plagues upon Egypt. (Exodus 4v2, v17, v20; 7v10, v20; 8v5, v16,; 9v23; 10v13).  He used the rod to part the Red Sea (14v16), and to smite the rock to bring water for the thirsty camp (17v6).  In the hand of Moses a humble stick of wood became "the rod of God"-refer Exodus 4v20 and 17v9.  The predominant thought of the "rod" in scripture is of Divine authority placed in the hands of men.  The Lord described the Assyrian as "the rod of His anger"-He would use the foreign king to bring discipline to wayward Israel (Isaiah 10v5).  He also used Israel as "the rod of His inheritance", when restored Israel fulfilled the will of God-Jeremiah 51v19-20.  It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for rod is the same as for "tribe" in scripture.  Out of 251 occurrences, 182 are translated tribe.  We thus conclude, that, in God's terms, a tribe is a community of people under the authority, discipline, protection, and guidance of the Sovereign Lord.  This is an important reminder of the necessity of correction in the life of believers who are called to recognise God's authority, and to submit to His guidance on their spiritual journey.  This is a solemn reminder that each group that calls itself a church today is under the authority of God.  

He commanded Moses to take rods from each of the tribes, with Aaron representing the tribe of Levi.  They were to place them before the ark of the covenant in the holy place, with each rod named after their tribe.  The answer to their leadership problem was from God.  The rods were examined and the dead wood of Aaron's rod had budded miraculously, producing overnight fruit, life from death.  There could be no argument to this.  Aaron, whose leadership had been challenged, was divinely established as high priest.  God determines who rules in His house.  There is no argument today who rules in God's house.  Hebrews 3v6 says it, "But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end".  Hebrews 4v14, "Seeing then we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession".  Hebrews 6v20, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek".  Hebrews 8v1-2, "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man".  It was God who called Aaron to be the high priest (Hebrews 7v4).  It was God who appointed Christ to lead the worship of the people of God from the sanctuary above.  He is the Head of the body the church, He endows it with gifts.  It is a challenge to His authority if either we promote to leadership those ungifted for the task; or we refuse those who are gifted their true place among us.  Christ gives the gifts and He expects them to be used for the benefit of all.  Those so gifted require good character to be effective.  If we are persuaded that our local spiritual leaders are appointed by Him, then we must submit to them according to Hebrews 13v7, v17.  The risen, glorified Lord Jesus has called and gifted men to lead us, and we should follow them in the measure they are followers of Christ.

Aaron's rod was preserved in the ark of the covenant, along with the tablets of stone and the golden pot of manna.  Our studies are of how the bible depicts Christ.  In the tablets of stone we have the Divine law unbroken and preserved in Christ.  In the pot of manna Christ is the spiritual provision and food of His people.  In the rod that budded we have life springing out of death, a wonder that was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ.  "On the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds"-17v8.  No doubt this is resurrection life, from a dead piece of wood there comes buds and flowers and fruit.  The subject of resurrection is massive and reveals that the resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of every believer both physically and spiritually-Romans 8v11 and 1st Corinthians 15v51-54.  It also establishes Christ as Lord of the living and dead with all authority in His hands-Romans 14v9 and  1st Corinthians 15v22-25.  No one in the camp of Israel could doubt the message of Aaron's rod.  No one alive today should doubt that all authority in heaven and upon earth is given to Christ, and all who oppose Him are lost.  The fear of death gripped the hearts of the sceptics in Moses day, as it should do in our day.  

Christ in all the scriptures The gainsaying of Korah

 Christ in all the scriptures

The gainsaying of Korah  Numbers 16

"They have perished in the gainsaying of Korah"  Jude 11

The audacious rebellion of Korah is etched eternally in the woes of holy scripture as a warning to every believer and to the entire world.  Man's open rebellion will be crushed by the unmitigated wrath of Almighty God.  There will be no exceptions.   A cursory reading of this chapter brings solemnity to the soul, yet its content is reality.  Reality about the unfettered sin in the heart of man; reality about the unmitigated wrath of God against human sin, particularly against rebellion.  We will first tabulate both of these realities in the chapter, then consider what this says about future judgment in the hands of Christ.  

The rebellion of man   Korah, who was at the heart of this rebellion, was of the favoured tribe of Levi, and a cousin to both Moses and Aaron-refer Exodus 6v16-21.  This rebellion in the camp of Israel was fomented by a man who was born into privilege of the highest order.  Jesus warned the people of His day, that, in a time of departure, "A man's foes shall be they of his own household"-Matthew 10v36.  The challenge was against the leadership of Moses, and the priesthood of Aaron.  Great privilege does not always result in good attitude.  Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, spread unrest and defiance among 250 prominent men in the congregation.  This unholy alliance would not be the only one in the history of Israel.  Using holy sounding words to cover their evil, (v3) they questioned the authority of Moses and Aaron.  Amid every rebellion there is always a spurious religious reason for the uprising.  Here is a summary of their delusion:

"Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord"?-16v3.

"Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness (these are the same people who refused to enter the land), except thou make thyself a prince over us"? 16v13.

Following the death of Korah and all his rebels, the congregation murmured, "But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord"-16v41.

The rebellion spread to the whole camp.  One man can be a force for evil!

The wrath of God   Challenge to the authority of divinely appointed leadership is a challenge to the Almighty Himself!  When feeble man challenges the omnipotence of God there is only one outcome, and the chapter bears this out in no uncertain terms.  The fallacy of equality (an error which pervades modern society today), and the perversion of historical facts (also a delusion today), brought the visible presence of God down among them.

"And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods...and they perished from among the congregation"-16v32-33.

"And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense"-16v35.

"And it came to pass when the congregation was gathered against Moses, and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and behold the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared"-16v42.

"...there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun...now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah"-16v46-50.   

A challenge to the authority of God is an invitation to judgment.  Almost 15,000 perished in the rebellion, from among His own people.  This is a warning to all generations that an Almighty God has at His disposal the elements of creation to crush any rebellion.  The Lord is wonderful in mercy, He is fearful in wrath.

How do we relate all this to our subject, "Christ in all, the scriptures"?  We all love the thought of "Gentle Jesus. meek and mild"; the record of the babe of Bethlehem is the greatest story ever told; we respond readily to the mercy and grace and the love of God in Christ and these are major themes in which we rejoice, and so we should.  In the rebellious world in which we live, where the authority of God is being challenged, and the perversion of God's truth is spreading like a cancer, we need to be reminded of the wrath of God, a subject that has all but disappeared from our thinking, even from church platforms where it should be preached.  At His first advent Jesus came in meekness and humility as the world's Saviour.   At His second advent (which must be very soon) He is coming in judgment.  He is coming to put down all rebellion, for everything that is contrary to the word of God is simply rebellion, man's thoughts against God's.  He is coming to make war-Revelation 19v11, "In righteousness He doth judge and make war".  This is an aspect we hear very little of today, and it needs to be told.  He is coming to silence every gainsayer; He is coming to put down every rebel.  Beginning with the godless rebel who will rule the world at that time, the beast with his arch propagandist, the false prophet; then the old devil who deceived the world will be chained and silenced; also the people who followed them, with all the buildings on earth wherein the deception was promoted, will be brought down.   The God of heaven, who has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5v22 and 27), will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained (Christ) Acts 17v31.  He came to be our Saviour, praise God!  But all rebellion will be put down, every rebel will be banished forever.  The One who died to save us, will wield the sword of Divine justice.  "Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God"-Revelation 19v15.  This is why a chapter like Numbers 16 has been included in holy writ.  If God did that to His own people back then, what will He do to the godless rebellious people of today?

There is a notable sequel to this dramatic incident.  The Spirit of God is not finished with the family of Korah.  It seems his sons had stood apart from this rebellion.  Numbers 26v11 tells us that in the heat of the rebellion, when the wrath of God fell, "the sons of Korah died not". They had not been part of the uprising and they were spared.  They lived to be endowed with talents that found them involved in the musical and poetic productions of the Levites, which in the course of time became their occupation in the settled conditions of the land.  They were contributors to, or recipients of, a number of beautiful Psalms involving personal devotion to God, absolute trust in God, and themes of worship and community.  These are found in Psalms 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.  Twelve Psalms in all attributed to the sons of Korah!  The father had created a monstrous rebellion, but the sons lived to serve the Lord and His people.  The heart warming conclusion to this treachery is as follows:

Family legacies do not determine everything, we are not defined by the failure of our fathers: God can redeem anything and anyone-examples in scripture are numerous.  Korah's sons lived to produce works that magnified the Lord.  Korah held a high position as a prominent son of Levi, but abused it.  His sons received endowments from above which they used for the Lord.  The fruits of their lives are recorded for us today in the above mentioned Psalms.

Christ in all the scriptures Numbers 15

 Christ in all the scriptures

Numbers 15

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I will give unto you..."!

This notable opening, considering the content of chapter 14, is remarkable.  The Lord has forbidden an entire generation to enter the land ever, yet here He is speaking of the next generation doing exactly that.  He says, not IF but WHEN you settle in the land!  Amid the confusion of the present day, it is high time the modern world awakes to the reality of what is here.  God gave them this land! and nothing, and no one, will take it from them.  Israel are far from a perfect people, but they are God's people, and He gave them the land they occupy now.  I remember the comment of the late politician Tony Benn, who said of this, "I did not realise God was an estate agent"!  The whole world needs to understand that the Lord OWNS every square inch of this earth, and He has given this particular land, "the glory of all lands", to Israel.  To oppose that is to oppose Almighty God, who has given them this land, a fact repeated many times in holy writ.  Psalm 24v1 declares "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein".

The chapter presents the instructions for true worship on entering the land.  The principles are outlined as follows:

15v1-21  Pleasing the Lord; v22-29 Obeying the Lord; v30-36 Fearing the Lord; v37-41 Displaying the Lord.

Pleasing the Lord  (1-21).  Five times in this section we read "of a sweet savour unto the Lord"-v3, v7, v10, v13, v14.  This is the first principle of worship when they settle in the land.  It would not be practical in the desert, but when they occupy the land these ingredients would be readily available and they were expected to "Honour the Lord with their substance, and with the first fruits of all their increase"-Proverbs 3v9.  God invites them to bring of His bounty to Him.  We do not possess anything that He has not given us first.  In the present day the sacrifices are spiritual rather than material, but it may involve giving of our material possessions.  God wants to be worshipped in His prescribed way, not any old way of our choosing. So He gives specifics on offerings: in any offering made by fire unto the Lord, whether of a burnt offering, or sacrifice in making a vow, or in a free will (spontaneous) offering, there were measures given for each approach involving fine grain, and oil, and wine.  For us today these rituals point to the sacrifice of Christ in all aspects; to the perfection of His offering, to the Holy Spirit who inspired Him, and to the outpouring of joy in doing the Father's will.  These are what bring a sweet odour to the Lord in contrast to the stench of sin from humankind.  He said, "I do always those things which please Him"-John 8v29.  Likewise, we are also encouraged to please Him-Colossians 1v10, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God".  The New Testament reveals what is pleasing to God, and it is a study worth pursuing.  Some examples are; Hebrews 1v6, to please Him we must have faith; preaching a sound gospel-1st Thessalonians 2v4; keeping His commandments-1st John 3v22; doing good and sharing what we have-Hebrews 13v16; living sanctified lives-1st Thessalonians 4v1; walking in fellowship with God-Hebrews 11v5; prioritising the things of God-2nd Timothy 2v4; obedience to parents-Colossians 3v20; supporting God's servants-Philippians 4v18; Praying for the unbelieving world at all levels-1st Timothy 2v1-4.  He is a giving God and He deserves something from us.  We note that the pardon pronounced in chapter 14 is based on the blood sacrifice of Christ, and God delights to receive our thanksgiving and devotion.  Whatever we give to the Lord, He gave us more.  He gave His all.  He seeks heart worship from a reverent Spirit, while He enriches us with many blessings.  He seeks full devotion with a joyous spirit from all His people and all associated with them.  In their giving, the first portion was for the Lord, "Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations"-v21.  The heave offering was of the shoulder, symbolising strength.  Remember the first commandment-"...love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"-Deut. 6v5

Obeying the Lord  v22-29  This section deals with the incidence of sin in the camp or in the individual.  Sins of ignorance (v24-29) are still sins.  The principal is established, "Though he wist it not, yet is he guilty"-Leviticus 5v17.  No one can know all sins, which are offensive to God, it is a learning process.  The instructions given to Moses were not suggestions, they were commandments:

"And if ye have erred and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses, even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforth among your generations...". 

The meticulous ritualistic detail, given for their worship, reflected the perfection of divine ingredients that would produce the desired sweet odour.  None of us would consider challenging a renowned chef as to how to make a savoury meal.  Deviation from these instructions was a sin, as it countermanded the will of God.  Reverence to the God of perfection demanded conformity in the finest detail.   As much as Israel were given many hundreds of laws (some reckon well over 2000), the Church has less commandments by comparison.  Christ, in His life and death, fulfilled the law in total (Matthew 5v17-18.  He fulfilled the moral law, the civil law, and the ceremonial law in minute detail.  His life and death were a total devotion to the will of God. Nevertheless there are some notable commandments in Christianity which we do well to honour.  At conversion the ordinance of baptism (Matthew 28v19; Mark 16v16; Acts 2v41; Romans 6v3-4; Colossians 2v12.  On the first of every week, remembrance of Him in the emblems bread and wine (Matthew 26v26-27; Mark 114v22-24; Luke 22v19-20; Acts 20v7; 1st Corinthians 11v23-26.  We are commanded to love one another (John 13v34-35; 15v12; Romans 13v8; Ephesians 5v2; Hebrews 13v1; James 2v8-"the Royal Law"; 1st Peter 1v22; 1st John 3v11v14; 5v2.  The instructions concerning church order are said to be the commandments of the Lord (1st Corinthians 14v37); acknowledgement of headship in head coverings (1st Corinthians 11v4-5); charismatic gifts must be interpreted for the edification of the church (1st Corinthians 14v4-17); public teachers (prophets) to demonstrate courtesy in their participation (14v29-33); female members to accept a silent role in the matter of public participation (1st Corinthians 14v34-38, with 1st Timothy 2v8-15).

These are some of the external commandments which are relatively easy to obey.  There are hundreds more to do with our moral lives-scholars have listed over 1000 commands under the headings of "beware", "give", "give not", "let", "love", "love not", "withdraw", "avoid", "be", "seek", "eschew", "mortify", "occupy", and many many more.  The gospel teaches that we are no longer under law, but it is expected that "the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in us"-Romans 8v4; we are not saved by works...but "unto good works"-Ephesians 2v9-10.  The commission of the apostles involved "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v20.  It is a serious error to propagate that in this day of grace there are no laws we are expected to obey.  This has led to moral relativism, a concept which is far from bible truth.  

Sins of ignorance are still sins and need to be atoned for by sacrifice.  Whether the sin is known only to the individual, it still needs to be dealt with as individual sin affected the whole camp, and required the action of the priest.  Sins confessed are sins forgiven, which is the bounty of the grace of God in Christ.  This was true prospectively for the Israelite, it is true practically and wonderfully for the Christian believer.

Fearing the Lord  v30-36   Presumptuous sins are to be dealt with in the severest way.  Those who commit blatant public evil within the congregation must be punished, and that publicly, either of excommunication or loss of life.  "Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken His commandment; that soul shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him"-15v31.  The purpose of such extreme punishment is to ensure the fear of the Lord in their midst.  Deuteronomy 13v10-11, "And all Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this among you"; 17v12-13, "And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously".   There was the incidence in the wilderness of a man breaking the law of the Sabbath.  Not knowing what to do, they sought the Lord, who declared the death penalty of stoning from among them.  This was the ultimate penalty, and would be viewed with horror and condemnation in the present day.  Blatant sin is described as "a reproach against the Lord"-(v30); the punishment reflects the Divine attitude to sin, He must put it away from the redeemed congregation.  The people must learn the reality of sin against the Lord.  There are incidents in the New Testament where people have died because of blatant sin.  Others, where some are excommunicated from the community; leaders, who are publicly rebuked within the community.  All this is to create a sense of the fear of the Lord amongst His people.  Concerning unregenerate man, "there is no fear of God before their eyes"-Psalm 36v1 and Romans 3v18.  Believers are expected to fear the Lord, by living holy lives.  The apostle Peter refers to this many times in his first epistle, "...pass the time of your sojourning here in fear"-1v17; "Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king"-2v17; "Servants be subject unto your masters with all fear..."-2v18; "...your chaste conversation coupled with fear"-3v2; "...give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"-3v15.  The reverential fear of the Lord should be a mark of every Christian and every community of Christians.

Displaying the Lord  v37-41  "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (tassels) in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a-whoring"-v38-39.

There was always a tendency for them to stray in heart, and the fringe with the tassels served as a reminder of who they were.  To coin a phrase we need to "remember whose we are, and who He is".  Many of the commentators say, "Be what you are!".  As we pass through a world in opposition to God we must display the beauties that God has bestowed upon us.  It reminds us who we have become in conversion, and testifies to others in contact with us.  These beautiful tassels with the ribbon of blue reminded them, and all who saw them, they were a heavenly people, they were different, and actions and attitude reflects this.