Aaron – La Vista Church of Christ

What is the significance of Aaron’s rod that budded?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Question:

What is the significance of Aaron's rod that budded?

Answer:

To understand the significance, you first need to know that neither Moses nor Aaron had an easy time being accepted by the Israelites as their leaders. People had the mistaken notion that they made themselves leaders. After Korah failed to execute a rebellion against Moses, the people blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of Korah and his followers. "On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD." Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared" (Numbers 16:41-42).

A plague broke out among the Israelites, which was only stopped by Aaron (who was probably in his 90's by this time) running through the camp to separate the plague victims from the healthy people.

Aaron's Rod that Budded Numbers 17:8-9

To finally put an end to dispute as to who would lead Israel, God staged a demonstration. "Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father's house, all their leaders according to their fathers' houses-twelve rods. Write each man's name on his rod. And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father's house. Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you" (Numbers 17:2-5). Aaron's rod not only leafed out the next day, it also had flower buds, flowers, and even ripe almonds on the same stick (Numbers 17:8). The man's name written on the sticks showed that it was the original one, but the growth in various stages of maturity also proves that no one had cut an almond branch and put it in its place.

Later Aaron's staff was placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial to the fact that God chooses whom He wishes to lead His people (Hebrews 9:4).

Why did Moses accept Aaron’s excuse for not eating the sacrifice?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:17:00 +0000

Question:

In Leviticus 10:16-20, I understand that Moses was upset with Eleazar and Ithamar because they didn't eat the sin offering as they were instructed to. However, I don't see why Moses was satisfied when Aaron told him that they did burnt offering and sin offering on the same day and that's why they didn't eat the sin offering. What am I missing here?

Answer:

To understand, keep in mind that Aaron lost two sons earlier this day because they violated the command of God (Leviticus 10:1-3). Thus, Moses was particularly jumpy about the sacrifices being done correctly because he did not want to lose any more family to God's wrath. "Then Moses made careful inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and there it was burned up. And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying, 'Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?'" (Leviticus 6:17).

The law was, "The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of meeting" (Leviticus 6:26). The problem is that the eaten portion of the sacrifice was an act of joy and thanksgiving. "And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the LORD your God has blessed you" (Deuteronomy 12:7). The worship offered was to be heartfelt. "I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me" (Deuteronomy 26:14).

Thus, when Moses demanded to know why the sacrifice was not eaten, Aaron replied that he could not eat it with joy because of the recent deaths of his sons. Aaron thought it better to skip that portion of the worship than to offer the Lord less than his best or in a way that was against how God wanted it done. "And Aaron said to Moses, "Look, this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and such things have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?"" (Leviticus 10:19). In other words, Aaron understood it was wrong not to eat the sacrifice, but he didn't want to commit a worse sin by offering a sacrifice to God that wasn't acceptable.

Seeing that God had not destroyed the violators as He had done earlier and seeing that Aaron's reason was sound, Moses left the issue alone.

Why did Aaron make the golden calf?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:54:00 +0000

Question:

Why did Aaron make the golden calf right after God had spoken the ten commandments to the Israelites?

Answer:

When confronted by Moses regarding his sin, Aaron blamed the people into pressuring him. "You know the people, that they are set on evil" (Exodus 32:22). He blamed Moses for taking too long to get back from talking with God. "For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him'" (Exodus 32:23). But the most foolish excuse that he came up with is that it just happened. "And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out" (Exodus 32:24).

The real problem is that Aaron wasn't willing to make a firm stand against people who wanted to sin. "Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies)" (Exodus 32:25). Aaron wasn't a good leader. I suspect that he thought he could compromise. While he knew it was wrong to create an idol for other gods, I suspect he thought he could get away with making a representation of God for the people because after making the idol Aaron had said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, 'Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD'" (Exodus 32:4-5). Aaron wasn't saying that the golden calf was a replacement for the true God, he was claiming that this calf represented the true God who had brought them out of Egypt. Further, he declared a feast day to the Lord. That is significant because Aaron said the focus of the feast was the Lord, using God's name, Yahweh.

Isn't that the way most corruption in religion begins? "God didn't really say not to do this, so I'm sure this one change won't make a difference to God." Yet it reveals a lack of full respect for God. Men's desires become more important than what God has said (Galatians 1:6-10).

It never stops with one little change. Note how quickly things got out of hand. The "feast to the Lord" became an orgy. "Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play" (Exodus 32:6). Moses heard singing and saw the people dancing before the calf (Exodus 32:18-19).

This ought to serve as a warning to people not to put their desires above what God has said, but sadly the warning is ignored.

Why did Moses strike the rock twice and what was Aaron’s participation?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Question:

Why did Moses strike the rock twice and what was Aaron's participation?

Answer:

"So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them" (Numbers 20:6-12).

Beyond a simple statement of fact, striking the rock twice tells us that this wasn't an accident. Why Moses struck the rock can be explained by two things. First, this is the second time God supplied water to Israel. The first time Moses was told to strike the rock (Exodus 17:6). Second, God told him specifically to bring Aaron's rod. We can understand that Moses assumed that the rod was requested because it was to be used.

Aaron's involvement was being there, thus, showing approval to what was being done, and it was Aaron's rod which was being used by Moses. God considers those who give support to wrong as equally guilty as those who do wrong (Romans 1:32).

Moses and Aaron's failure was two-fold. In scolding the people they asked if they (Moses and Aaron) had to bring forth water. They did not give God the credit as they should have. Secondly, they did not do as God commanded. They improvised, but in doing so they introduced doubt into this miracle. One could claim that the water was there and Moses merely knocked a stone covering the spring aside. If Moses had done it God's way it would have been more impressive because merely speaking to a rock would not allow water to flow.

Response:

Thanks for your insight and may God bless you!