“Aaron offered incense and made atonement for them” (Num. 16:47). “The next day Moses entered the Tent of Testimony, and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds” (Num. 17:8).
The Old Testament is full of revelations of God’s mercy for His sinful people. In the history here recorded, we find gems of this beautiful Gospel.
The Israelites were in the wilderness, on the way to Canaan. They had already been on the road for several years. The Lord had cared for them in every way according to the promises given them. But they were not a happy and contented people. They complained and murmured again and again, against the Lord and against Moses and Aaron. Daily the Lord had given them fresh manna from heaven. At another time He had given them quails for meat. At still another time He had performed the miracle of bringing forth abundance of fresh water out ofa rock. Although all of these miracles were done before their eyes, they still complained saying at times that they wished that the Lord would have left them in Egypt.
The history of these people is characterized by complaints and more complaints!
We ought to ask ourselves a few questions in the light of this history and the subsequent great displeasure of the Lord with Israel. How would we react to having the same food three times per day, for breakfast, noon lunch and evening dinner (though prepared in different ways) for weeks, months and even years? In spite of having much more variety than those people had, we often indulge in complaints and gripes. I have never worked in a factory, but I am told by people who do that in such places there is constant murmuring and dissatisfaction. While nothing may get more criticism than the weather, income taxes, and economic conditions also get their share. Many farmers are notorious complainers, especially in the spring time. It’s either too dry or too wet, the prices are too low and they also surely expect a poor crop. God’s people are not free from these sins of habitual complaining.
In Numbers 16 we read about Korah, Dathan and Abiram, three leaders of a rebellion in Israel against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They maintained that the whole community was holy and didn’t need Moses and Aaron. (Remember that the Lord had appointed these two to offices , and that Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, was a type of Christ who was to come.) We know what happened to the leaders of revolt because of their great sin. The Lord caused the ground under them to split open, and they went down alive into this dark grave, with their families, children and all their belongings. One can imagine the anguished cries of these people as they went down. Then the earth closed again as it was before.
The next day the Lord sent fire down from heaven to destroy the 250 other leading men, who had sided with Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Making matters still worse, the next day the whole congregation of Israel gathered against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of having killed these people of the Lord. This incurred God’s fierce anger. He told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people, and He would completely destroy them. Immediately the people began to die from a plague. Moses apparently felt that this was not a time for him to ask God to stop the plague lest the nations have reason to reflect upon the work of God as having been a failure. Neither could Moses and Aaron plead that only a few had been guilty, for all rebelled. It was a crisis. What could Moses do? There was only one thing left. Immediately he instructed Aaron to take the censer (a cup-like vessel), fill it with incense and some coals of fire (from the altar, to make the incense burn) and present it for atonement in the Holy Place before the face of God. Immediately the plague stopped. Thus Moses and Aaron must act in the office of the priesthood to save the people by making this atonement. In this action they point to the Christ to come.
The only hope for grumbling Israelites, as for grumbling Christians, is the blood of Jesus Christ. How beautiful is God’s forgiving grace! Never before was the Gospel so preached in the Old Testament. All those who trust in that atonement are promised salvation.
The truth which God taught His people was not exhibited only in judgment. The leaders of each tribe had to take rods and write their names on them. Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, was also instructed to do this. These rods, dead sticks of wood, had to be placed before the Lord, before the ark in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The next day Moses was told to take them out again. To the people’s great surprise, the rod of Aaron had budded, blossomed and produced ripe almonds, the first fruits in the spring of the year in the land of Israel. What did this tell these people? First of all, God told them that salvation would be given only in and through Aaron, who was a type of the coming Christ. Korah, Dathan and Abiram had said that all the people were holy: They didn’t need a savior, they could save themselves. God here said very plainly that deliverance would be only through Aaron, with the censer of incense, and the blossoming rod. Christ symbolized by Aaron, the priest, is the only way, the truth and the life. There is no other way under heaven by which men can be saved. Notice also that Aaron’s rod in itself was no different than the rest of them. They were all equally dead. Who expects almonds to grow on a dead stick? The Lord, by miraculous power and grace, made Aaron ‘s rod alive and productive. Aaron could take no credit for himself. Only God’s grace, Jesus Christ, in His love, grace and power, should receive all the credit. The fact that only Aaron’s rod blossomed also indicates God’s sovereign choice.
Typically in the Old Testament, but really in the New Testament, the rod bursts into branches, blossoms and much fruit upon the resurrection of Christ and the Holy Spirit’s Pentecostal coming.
Symbolized in the censer of incense and atonement is the payment of Jesus Christ for the sins of His people. This is called our justification. And we see in the blossoming rod, the power of the living Christ shown on Pentecost, the power of a new life in the fear of God. This is called sanctification. Thus the story demonstrates the grace of God toward these rebellious people.
How can rebellious and grumbling church people (in the Old and New Testament) be saved? Only by believing in this Christ and His forgiving grace and by living the new life by the Holy Spirit.
How proper it is for us, often grumbling and murmuring Christians, to ask for that forgiving grace. As forgiven sinners, we must then listen to Paul when he tells us to do all things without grumbling and complaining (Phil 2). And we must learn from him when he says, “I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4). In ourselves we are as dead as the rod of Aaron was. Only by faith in this living Christ, and by receiving His Spirit can we begin to bring forth fruits of life that are pleasing to our God.
With the grumbling, impenitent Israelites God was greatly displeased. With sinners who seek forgiveness in Christ and try to live new lives out of His grace, God is greatly pleased.
