The Budding Staff

The Budding Staff

Q: Aaron’s budding staff was made from what kind of wood?

• a. almond
• b. maple
• c. oak

Did you watch the movie Tangled? In the movie, Rapunzel’s hair has magical healing powers. When she sings, her hair lights up, and the powers are unleashed. This is ultimately the sign she is the lost princess. Magical things happen in fairy tales.

How about a piece of wood that buds to prove Aaron was chosen by God to be the priest? That story may be less known, but it’s a true story right from the Bible. And it shows God’s power, not make-believe magical power. To end the questioning of whether or not Aaron was God’s chosen priest (see Numbers 16:3), the Lord instructed the people to bring 12 wooden staffs, one from each leader of the 12 tribes of Israel. A name was written on each piece of wood. Aaron’s name was written on the staff representing the tribe of Levi. The staffs were placed in front of the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle.

The next day Aaron’s staff had budded, blossomed, and then produced fully ripe almonds! The other staffs were unchanged. This was the sign that the Levites were to be God’s servants in the Tabernacle.

The budding, blossoming staff didn’t just prove that Aaron was to be the priest. It was a sign of fruitfulness from something dead. The other staffs were still dead wood, but Aaron’s was fruitful. When people are truly doing what God has called them to do, their lives will blossom and produce fruit just as Aaron’s staff did.

For You

You can choose to walk your own way or even try to do a job that belongs to someone else like some of the Israelites did, but only when you’re doing what God has planned for you will your life be fruitful. That means you will see God at work, and he will produce results.

Answer: a

When [Moses] went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!   Numbers 17:8

(The Whole Story: Numbers 17)