Numbers 17:1-13 / A Holy Calling
📖 Scripture
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff.
3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.
4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you.
5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them.
7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.
8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.
9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.
10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.”
11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.
12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!
13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”
✅ Scripture Summary
✅ Memory verse
✅ Reflection
Delegating Authority (17:1–7)
Because some of the Levites and community leaders have been rebelling against God and grumbling against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, God sets up a test to show whom He has chosen to carry His authority. The leader of each of the twelve ancestral tribes is to write his name on his staff, which will then be placed in front of the ark of the covenant. The staff that sprouts will be a sign that God has clearly chosen its owner to be a leader of Israel. Sometimes people rebel against God by grumbling against their spiritual leaders. When we are tempted to grumble, let us instead respond with prayer, remembering that we are ultimately all under God’s authority.
Think about how you respond to your spiritual leaders. Ask God to show you how you can pray for them.
The Leaders God Chooses (17:8–13)
God performs a miracle to demonstrate His choice, showing the people the right leader to follow so that they will no longer walk in sin and rebellion. Aaron’s staff not only sprouts but also blossoms and produces almonds overnight! Such miraculous signs might not be necessary when God places leaders in our lives today, but we can still recognize those who represent His character through their words and actions. Godly leaders do not demand so much authority that our focus is drawn toward them rather than toward God. Instead, they reflect the character of Christ, acting as humble servants who lead us into closer communion with Him. Godly leaders submit themselves under the authority of God and point others toward Him.
Ponder the qualities that make up a godly leader. How can you cultivate these qualities?
“Of the many ways leaders can exert influence on others through their life, none is more powerful than when God affirms them before others.”
– Henry and Richard Blackaby
✅ Prayer
✅ Essay
Choosing the Right Path
The people we choose to follow can make a profound difference. I saw this in the lives of my friends as they grew into adulthood. Over the course of the same year, two friends walked in opposite directions. One followed a group of people into a life of drugs and addiction. His path was full of heartache, broken relationships, and conflict with his parents. Another friend walked a different path. He experienced the divorce of his parents, but did not allow that challenge to embitter him. He chose to dedicate his life to God and eventually became a pastor, leading others to follow the Lord.
As I saw these choices take these two friends in opposite directions, God taught me a valuable lesson. He shook me from my own complacency and called me to choose a path to follow, one that would lead me closer to Him. Reflecting on those years as a young man, I am thankful for the godly leaders who showed me how to live a life of faithfulness.
As you follow the leaders God has placed in your life, allow the lessons you learn from them to lead you to become more like Jesus. Similarly, whether you have an official title or not, you have leadership responsibilities. Others around you are looking for an example to follow. Take these responsibilities seriously. If you keep your eyes on the Lord, others who follow your example will also follow Him.
Written by Kris Anderson