Aaron’s Rod That Budded — Joseph Hall on Numbers 17

Aaron's Rod That Budded

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

Numbers chapter 17 verse 8

Before, God wrought miracles in the rod of Moses; now in the rod of Aaron. As Pharaoh might see himself in Moses' rod, which of a rod of defence and protection, was turned into a venomous serpent, so Israel might see themselves in the rod of Aaron. Every tribe and every Israelite was, of himself, as a dry-stick, without life, without sap; and if any one of them had power to live, and flourish, he must acknowledge it from the immediate power and gift of God.

Before God's calling, all men are alike; every name is alike written in their rod; there is no difference in the letters, in the wood; neither the characters of Aaron are fairer, nor the staff more precious. It is the choice of God that makes the distinction; so it is in our calling of Christianity; all are equally devoid of the possibility of grace; all equally lifeless; by nature we all are sons of wrath.

If we be now better than others, Who separated us? We are all crabstocks in this orchard of God, he may graft what fruit he pleases upon us; only the grace and effectual calling of God, makes the difference.

These twelve heads of Israel would never have written their names in their rods, but in hope they might be chosen to this dignity. What an honour was this priesthood, whereof all the princes of Israel are ambitious! If they had not thought it a high preferment, they had never so much envied the office of Aaron. What shall we think of this change? Is the evangelical ministration of less worth than the Levitical? While the testament is better, is the service worse?

How is it, that the great think themselves too good for this employment? How is it that under the Gospel, men are disparaged with that, which honoured them under the Law; that their ambition, and our scorn meet in one subject.

These twelve rods are not laid up in the several cabinets of their owners, but are brought forth and laid before the Lord. It is fit God should make choice of his own attendants. Even we men hold it injurious to have servants obtruded upon us by others. Never shall that man have comfort in his ministry, whom God has not chosen. The great Commander of the world has set every man in his station; to one he has said, Stand you in this tower and watch: to another, Make you good these trenches: to a third, Dig you in this mine.

He that gives, and knows our abilities, can best set us on work.

This rod was the pastoral staff of Aaron, the great shepherd of Israel. God testifies his approbation of his charge, by the fruit. That a rod cut off from the tree should blossom, it was strange: but that in one night it should bear buds, blossoms, fruit, and that both ripe and hard, it was highly miraculous. The same power that revives the dead plants of winter, in the spring, does it here without earth, without time, without sun, that Israel might see and grant, it was no reason his choice should be limited, whose power is unlimited.

Fruitfulness is the best argument of the calling of God; not only all the plants of his setting, but the very boughs cut off from the body of them, will flourish. And that there may not want a succession of increase, here are fruit, blossoms, buds; both proof and hope inseparably mixed.

It could not but be a great comfort to Aaron, to see his rod thus miraculously flourishing; to see this wonderful testimony of God's favour and election; sure, he could not but think, who am I, O God, that thou shouldst thus choose me out of all the tribes of Israel? My weakness has been more worthy of thy rod of correction, than my rod has been worthy of these blossoms. How has thou magnified me in the sight of all thy people!

How able art thou to uphold my imbecility with the rod of thy support! How able to defend me with the rod of thy power, who hast thus brought fruit out of the sapless rod of my profession! That servant of God is worthy to faint, that holds it not a sufficient encouragement, to see the evident proofs of his Master's favour.

Commonly, those fruits which are soon ripe, soon wither; but these almonds of Aaron's rod, are not more early than lasting; the same hand which brought them out before their time, preserved them beyond their time; and, for perpetual memory, both rod and fruit must be kept in the ark of God. The tables of Moses, the rod of Aaron, the manna of God, are monuments fit for so holy a shrine. The doctrine, sacraments, and government of God's people are precious to him, and must be so to men.

All times shall see and wonder, how his ancient church was fed, taught, ruled. Moses' rod did great miracles, yet I find it not in the ark. The rod of Aaron has this privilege, because it carried the miracle still in itself; whereas the wonders of that other rod were passed. Those monuments would God have continued in his church, which carry in them the most manifest evidences of that which they import.

The same God, which by many transient demonstrations had approved the calling of Aaron to Israel, would now have a permanent memorial of their conviction; that, whensoever they should see this relic, they should be ashamed of their presumption and infidelity. The name of Aaron was not more plainly written in that rod than the sin of Israel was in the fruit of it; and how much Israel finds their rebellion beaten with this rod, appears in their present relenting and complaint: "Behold, we are dead, we perish."

God knows how to pull down the biggest stomach, and can extort glory to his name, from the most obstinate gainsayers.