Wed.’s Devo - Aaron’s Rod

Read: Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7 Almost 300 people had died the day before. The people began talking among themselves about what had happened and went to complain to Moses and Aaron. They saw that the Lord’s presence was appearing at the Tabernacle so they all went to see what God would say. *** God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people, because he was going to kill them. Moses and Aaron fell down in intercession, begging him not to kill more people. Moses told Aaron to quickly go and bring the incense so God would smell that and be appeased. By the time he got it, the plague had already broken out and 14,700 more people died. *** God settled the matter once and for all when he had each tribal leader bring his staff to him. He placed it in the Tabernacle for the night. Each staff had the name of the tribal leader on it. The next morning only Aaron’s rod had sprouts, buds, blossoms and ripe almonds on it. God had chosen the tribe of Levi to be his ministers. Moses set Aaron’s staff before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to the others so no one else would have to die. *** Now, the people complained that all God did was to kill people. Moses explained that the Levites and the Priests would minister to the Lord and if they messed up, it would only be them that paid the price. The Levites were to do the duties of the Tabernacle out side the Holy of Holies but they were not to go near any of the sacred objects of the altar. They were to maintain and care for the Tabernacle. The priest performed the sacred duties inside the sanctuary and at the altar. The Levites were a gift from God to the priests. *** Aaron would be in charge of all the holy offerings. Aaron stood for Jesus. He was to have a portion of the offerings offered for him and his sons. We are his sons. The harvest gifts, the best of the olive oil and new wine and grain was also theirs - or ours. Everything in Israel that is set apart to the Lord also belonged to Aaron and his children. We are partakers of the Lord’s blessings. *** The first born son or animal offered to the Lord would be the property of the priests (like Samuel who was offered to Eli). But the priests were to redeem their own first born sons when they were one month old for five pieces of silver. Our first fruits are the Lord’s. *** The Levite’s would receive no allotment of land in the promised land because they would receive the tithes of all the people. Then, they were to give to the Lord a tithe of what the people gave to them. They were to give the priests the best they received from the people. The priests would keep their portion and give the best to the Lord. They were warned never to treat the gifts the people gave as common - they were holy and to be respected. Jesus demonstrated this when he commented on the widows mites as though they were the most valuable gift given. *** In Mark, the women went to the tomb the morning after the Sabbath. They came to bring spices and anoint Jesus’ body. On the way they talked about how they were going to roll the stone away from the tomb but when they got there it was done. They went inside and were met with an angel who told them that Jesus was risen and they were to tell the disciples, and Peter that he would meet them in Galilee. *** None of Jesus disciples thought he would rise from the dead. They all thought he had died and was not who he said he was. Peter must have been the most disappointed because the angel called him by name. Peter was also filled with guilt over denying him. *** Jesus did meet with them many times before he left to go to heaven. He told them to do all the things he had done, then he went and sat at God’s right hand. The disciples went everywhere preaching and doing the works of Jesus. We are told that greater works will we do because Jesus has gone to his Father in heaven. We are to do the greater works and continue his ministry. *** Lord, increase our faith to do these greater works. Thank you for the things we are seeing in our nation that we didn’t think were possible, but they are happening. May this give us faith to believe you will do in the Spirit what you are doing in the natural. Excel your kingdom work through us.