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Bible study · Numbers 17

Numbers 17: The rod that budded

Read Numbers 17 before you meet.

In a few lines

In Hebrew, the word for Aaron's rod is also the word for a tribe, and his name went on Levi's (17:3). By the next day it had "sprouted, budded, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds" (17:8), and it was kept "for a token against the children of rebellion… that they not die" (17:10).

The verse to carry

“On the next day, Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony; and behold, Aaron’s rod for the house of Levi had sprouted, budded, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.”

Numbers 17:8

To talk about

  1. 1. The people complained even after the fire and the plague (16:41), and the LORD answered with a sign that would stay in front of them (17:10). What reminders of what God has done do you keep in front of you, and do they help when you start to complain?

  2. 2. Aaron didn't make his rod bud; the LORD chose (17:5). "Nobody takes this honor on himself" (Hebrews 5:4). Where are you tempted to reach for a place or a role, rather than wait to be given it?

  3. 3. The people swung from complaining against Moses and Aaron (16:41) to "Will we all perish?" (17:13). When have you swung between being angry at God and being afraid of him? What helped you find your way back?

Prayer requests