Word Association - part 2 "Aaron's Rod"

Text: Hebrews 9:4; Numbers 1, 4, 16 To better understand the significance of Aaron's rod we need to go back to the book of Numbers. In Numbers chapter 1 we see a census was taken of all the tribes with the exception of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 1:47-54). * The Responsibilities: The tribe of Levi was given special responsibilities for the Tabernacle. In chapter 3 we see the Levites being called out to be the priests. Part of their job was to cover the Holy items from the Tabernacle. Anyone else who saw these items was warned of death. (Numbers 4:15). The Kohuthites were assigned the job of carrying the objects but only if the objects were covered because if they saw the items they too would die (Numbers 4:17-20) * The Rebellion (Numbers 16): Some of the children of Israel thought that Moses and Aaron had taken on too much authority. They believed that they were holy and should be allowed to help with the priestly duties. Frankly there was jealousy in the tribe and their rebellion was against God (Numbers 16:11). * The Results - Judgment (Numbers 16:20-50) Next we see that the results of their actions was judgment from the Lord. First the instigators of the rebellion were killed when they and their families were swallowed up into the earth (Numbers 16:25-33). Second the 250 men who had joined them were consumed by fire from the Lord (Numbers 16:35). Even all this did not convince the people (Numbers 16:41-50) and as a result the Lord allowed a plague to kill 14,700 of them. * The Reminder - (Numbers 17) Here we see the budding of Aaron's Rod and how God showed that he intended for only the descendants of Aaron to be priests. We see that God does not tolerate sin and that there is always judgment for sin. In 2 Peter 3 we see that the judgment of the world is coming and the only hope we have is to come to repentance before the Lord and to trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ.