Aaron's rod that budded... (Full Version)

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jbow -> Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 11:38:16 AM)

In, or around, the ark of the covenent were three things. The tablets of the law, a golden far of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. We can easily see the significance of these things to Israel at that time. However, we are told that these things were types and examples that happened to teach us who live in these times.

My question is what is the significance and meaning for us today of Aaron's rod that budded. What does it mean to the Church and to the Christian.

I can see election in it, it was the symbol of God's choice. I can see authority in it as it was used by Aaron and Moses to perform miricles before Pharoah.

Is there a deeper Spiritual meaning?

I ask because I was troubled about all the people in America who seem to think that "good people" go to Heaven. Both Christian and secular people seem to believe this to varying degrees. I was troubled and was thinking that I have to do something, I have to try and tell them the truth. I heard the Spirit saying to me to read Hebrews chapter nine. I read it and He stopped me at verse four, " and told me to learn what Aaron's rod means.

So I am studying it.

Hebrews 9:1-4 1 (NKJV)
Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant


Could the Lord be saying to me that it is not my place to worry about all the people happily on their way to hell? That it is His sovereignty that determines these things? I suppose that one could preach the truth all day long to unbelievers and if God does not open them to it they will not hear it. It is just distressing to see and hear so many people in such deception... but maybe I am overstepping my boundarys.

I don't know, trying to learn though.

Julien



LCannon -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 2:41:25 PM)

Off the cuff, the three items in the ark seem to say(to me) Jehovah's unattainable standard (the tablets), His care and provision in bridging that gulf by sending the 'bread of life'(literal and figurative)and His(the priesthood's)authority in a living 'staff' in instruction, conviction and discipline. I try to keep it simple; I'm just that way.



Shrommer -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 4:12:34 PM)

The Lord told you to learn what Aaron's rod means. This means that you should go back to the Torah (the five books of Moses, especially after Genesis). The Book of Hebrews was written to show how the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New. Fortunately, even though we live in New Testament times, we still have the Old Testament in our possession.

I think that to learn something entails a lot more than just reading a few commentaries or hearing the opinions of a few people. To learn something like this from the Word of God, I suggest you back off from the specific question "What does Aaron's rod mean?" and take a look at the whole context of Aaron's rod.

Ideally, I think it is time for you to read through the 40 chapters of Exodus, perhaps more than once. The calling of Aaron and the importance of the rod of Moses is in Exodus chapters 3-4, but also see 5:1-4, 6:26-27, and 6:28-7:13 where Aaron's rod is first mentioned. If you can't read the whole book of Exodus, then less ideally, perhaps chapters 16-20, then 24 and 29, then 32-36 and 39-40.

In Exodus we see the relationship between God and His people using the earthly mediators/leaders of Moses and Aaron.

Next comes the book of Leviticus, or at least chapters 8-11. Then the book of Numbers, perhaps highlighting chapters 10-20.

I think that to know the meaning of Aaron's rod, we must become familiar with the Torah, and the story of Aaron's leadership, God's instructions, the people's mixed times of rebellion and obedience ... we really have to picture ourselves inside the story of Israel coming out of Egypt and the years in the wilderness. This way, we will see depth of meaning, richness of relationship and attitudes and emotions and responses and reactions and decisions and challenges and answers.

In some ways, it is like asking "What does the American Constitution mean?" A simple answer like "the blueprint for how our government operates" is not really knowing what it means as compared to if we study the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Continental Congress meetings, the Bill of Rights, the Supreme Court rulings, the further amendments - all of American history.

Don't be afraid to listen to others and read other books about Aaron's rod, but there is no substitute for going to the primary source -Torah and God Himself. Don't be alarmed if the meaning of Aaron's rod changes for you over time, or if you can't come up with a simple answer in just a few years.



Shrommer -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 4:28:32 PM)

Also notice Hebrews 1:1. God spoke to us in times past through the prophets, people like Moses, and like Moses' mouthpiece Aaron.

When Jesus came, God spoke to us through His Son. Christ was the anointed chosen one, and Aaron is the one chosen and confirmed by God. (Matthew 17:5, Luke 3:21-22)

The book of Hebrews talks about Jesus as our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek and greater than Aaron.

The Gospels tell about how God's people interacted with God's Son, and there are many interesting comparisons between the ways that the Israelites dealt with and responded to Aaron and Moses, then later the way the Jews responded to God's own Son. The heart of man is pretty much the same in all times.

We can read the Gospels to see how people responded to Jesus in the flesh, but later in the New Testament, God starts to put His Spirit in mankind, and the response of born-again man is finally what God really wants from us.

See Ezekiel 11:19, 36:22-32 (especially v. 26), 44:10-16, Joel 2:27-29, II Corinthians 3, John 3:6, John 6:63, Acts 2:16-22, etc.



DougHorton -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 4:29:16 PM)

I take what I admit is a rather simple view. I observe three facts:

1. It was dead and then alive. We were dead and then alive.
2. It had no visible root. Our root is Christ in Heaven.
3. The staff was a symbol of authority. This rod was alive.

Therefore, the budding staff was a symbol of living authority over those who were dead and made alive in the Messiah and receiving their sustenance from Him.



jbow -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/4/2008 4:37:29 PM)

Thanks Shrommer... and L...

I surely am going back to the source but I thought I might get a few opinions here too. I will also share what the Lord teaches me. The Torah is my very favorite part of the Bible. Especially Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. I will have no problem reading it again and again, it is always new and exciting.

I do believe that God teaches us from His word. I accept that the Holy Spirit is my teacher and I, like David in Psalm 5, look up expectantly. His voice and His teaching is a balm. His mercy and His grace are what keep me going.

I guess what got me distressed in the first place was seeing how ignorant so many people are about Christianity. It is like when you realize how many people shoplift. If you are honest you tend to think others are too. I have a pest control business and I used to service a chain of stores. I was in one store and they told me that they lost right at 100 bucks in cigarettes, off the counter, in one shift. This was in the early 1990s when they were cheaper. That amazed me. I began to understand why they want to see a receipt when you leave Walmart... I used to think it was offensive, I just never realized how dishonest so many people are, they all seem sorta ok, well.. most people do. I think it is the same thing I just assumed that others know about Christ, or at least the fundamentals, and I have realized that in a society full of churches... most people don't know a thing about it.

I am glad that the Lord loves me, I sometimes don't understand why, but i'm glad that He does and that He wants to teach me something.

Again... thanks! and be assurred that I am looking at other things but scripture first.

Julien



dduuggyy -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/5/2008 9:21:36 AM)

JBOW,
Congratulations to you for seeing the light of the world or the people in it and GOD is definitely speaking through the Holy Spirit to you and giving you the insight of the mysterious that others will not see for they are not interested. Remember only a few will be save as stated in Peter and that is a few of the righteous. We all may have our struggles in life but once we know our shortcomings then we can correct them or attempt to through the HS. Most people are not interested at all and they go to the building every Sunday religiously and not knowing that the church is suppose to be them and not in a collection of bricks, stones wood and etc... Now some people don't have a desire to know or follow GOD, so therefore they don't care what they do...rob, steal, cheat, murder ....the list goes on....they do this out of their own heart as it states it in beginning of James about "man is led astray from the desires of his own heart" They are just performing the normal acts of man which is stated in Galatians 5...anyone without the HS will fall into this catagory as in a lifestyle. Never the less sin will always exist as from the beginning to the end but unfortunately our civil life as we know it will get worser and worser....for man's heart is hardening by the minute. We can't change man but we can live the life of Christ and show what a Christian lifestyle is suppose to be and if we are able to do that, then we speak volumes without using our vocal cords. "TALK IS CHEAP AND ACTIONS SPEAKS" GOD blessings to you and you are on your way to understanding the purpose of life. I am proud of people like you that has allowed the HS to open your eyes to reality. Keep Looking and striving the path will be there for you and as I speak to you and everyone else I am listening to myself the most. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL



jbow -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/5/2008 5:23:36 PM)

thanks D...

I started in Exodus last night with an eye toward anything associated to Aaron's rod or to any rod.

I first noticed that Moses' and Aaron's parents were both children of Levi. (God told them to inscribe "Levi" on Aaron's rod when it was placed in tent and it budded).

Then there was this... Moses lived 1/3 of his life as Moses the Egyptian, 1/3 as Moses the shepherd of Midian, and then he came upon the burning bush where God asked "What is that in your hand"? A staff, (a rod). God, right there called Moses to a ministry. God told Moses that He was sending Aaron to him in the wilderness. Then, out of nowhere, seemingly out of context, there is recorded an incident where God tried to kill Moses, after calling him and before Aaron got there... because his son was not circumcised. Moses wife Zippora, cut the lad's foreskin with a piece of flint and called Moses a bloody bridegroom.

I stopped there and laid in the bed and meditated on this... I went over the story from the Nile to the bush and God's call to God's trying to kill him to Aaron showing up... I went over it and then it dawned on me...

We may comprimise, we may have disobedience in our lives but when God call's us that disobedience must be taken away... we must get serious. As soon as God called Moses, he also called him out on his disobedience and Moses was in real danger. His wife interceded, his life was spared and Moses got serious with God.

It seemed to me to say that if we truly want to be used by God than we need to stop it with our disobedience, we must stop playing around alltogether, deny our self, take up our cross, and follow Him.

Pray for me,

Julien



jbow -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/5/2008 5:27:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DougHorton

I take what I admit is a rather simple view. I observe three facts:

1. It was dead and then alive. We were dead and then alive.
2. It had no visible root. Our root is Christ in Heaven.
3. The staff was a symbol of authority. This rod was alive.

Therefore, the budding staff was a symbol of living authority over those who were dead and made alive in the Messiah and receiving their sustenance from Him.


That is good.

What do you think about a comparision of the Ark and the tabernacle housing it being the temple of God and now, our heart being the temple of God, and the pot of manna, the rod, and the tablets in this light? The law written on the fleshy tablet of our heart, the manna.. His mercy is new every day, abd the rod... what?

J



DougHorton -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/5/2008 5:43:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbow

quote:

ORIGINAL: DougHorton

I take what I admit is a rather simple view. I observe three facts:

1. It was dead and then alive. We were dead and then alive.
2. It had no visible root. Our root is Christ in Heaven.
3. The staff was a symbol of authority. This rod was alive.

Therefore, the budding staff was a symbol of living authority over those who were dead and made alive in the Messiah and receiving their sustenance from Him.


That is good.

What do you think about a comparison of the Ark and the tabernacle housing it being the temple of God and now, our heart being the temple of God, and the pot of manna, the rod, and the tablets in this light? The law written on the fleshy tablet of our heart, the manna.. His mercy is new every day, and the rod... what?

J


They are all shadows of the reality of God's relation with us. They all point to the Messiah. To continue your analogies, the rod is the living Lordship of Christ, the guidance and conviction of the indwelling Holy Spirit.



jbow -> RE: Aaron's rod that budded... (8/7/2008 9:54:21 PM)

I'm slowly going through Exodus again and learning things along the way, I always seem to learn new stuff.

God, Moses, and Aaron did a lot with that rod in Egypt...

Finally Pharoah let them go, (not a moment too soon, i'm surprised the Egyptian people didn't kill him)

I think it is very cool how they went three days out into the wilderness and came to Marah, bitterness, bitter waters... and God showed him a tree. He cast the tree into the water and the water became sweet... I've always seen this as a picture of the cross and how through the cross we get to the living water, but I never noticed the next verse where God requires them/us to obey Him, to walk in His ways, (to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and body and love our neighbor as ourself), and He will put none of the diseases on us that He put upon the Egyptians, for He is the Lord who heal's us.

Then they/we come to Elim. Elim means strength and political power as a Cheif, strength as a ram, support and a door frame.
Elim with 12 springs and 70 date palms... amazing. After the cross if we totally commit to Him and love Him with all we are and have we come to Elim, to the perfection of His headship. 12 springs/12 sons of Israel/12 apostles/12 foundations/12 gates...
70 date palms/70 nobles of Israel.

I looked up some info on 12 and 70... I found this to be pretty good:

http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/12.html
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/70.html

There is so much symbolism in Exodus. One of my favorite books of all time deals with a lot of how Exodus applies to us today. It is "The Saving Life of Christ" by Major Ian Thomas.
I keep a supply of them in my truck and give them away as the Lord leads.

God is good!

Julien



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