INTRODUCTION: The timing of this event is a glorious picture of God’s work in the history of mankind. This lesson occurs after a series of sinful events on the part of the people of God. The people are found complaining and lusting (Numbers 11), Miriam and Aaron get caught up in the murmuring (Numbers 12), the spies deliver an evil report (Numbers 13), they fail to enter the land (Numbers 14), and Korah rebels (Numbers 16).

So what does the Lord do to follow the failures of mankind? He follows with several glorious pictures of His Son, Jesus Christ. The rod of Aaron is one in a series of events that shows us that the only reconciliation for the sins of mankind is found in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE RODS (Numbers 17:1-5 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. [3] And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. [4] And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. [5] And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
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1. Rods in Scripture
1. Explanation
1. The rod was probably much like a walking stick.
2. It would have also been used as a shepherd’s staff or a weapon.
2. Symbolism
1. A symbol or authority and power (Exodus 4:20And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
   See All...; Exodus 7:9-12 [9] When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. [10] And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. [11] Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. [12] For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
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2. A symbol of judgment (Psalm 2:9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
   See All...; Proverbs 10:13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
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3. Related to a scepter (Ezekiel 19:14And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
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2. According to the House of Their Fathers (Numbers 17:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.
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1. Determined by genealogy
2. The genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
   See All...; Luke 1:26-33 [26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
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3. Rods Bore the Name of the Men (Numbers 17:2-3 [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. [3] And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
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1. Write the name of each man upon his rod.
2. Write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi.
4. A Rod To Be Chosen by God (Numbers 17:4-5 [4] And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. [5] And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
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1. Lay the rods in the presence of God.
2. The man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom.
2. LAID UP BEFORE THE LORD (Numbers 17:6-7 [6] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. [7] And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
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1. Placed Overnight in the Tabernacle
2. Christ Was Laid in the Tomb (Isaiah 53:9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
   See All...; Matthew 27:57-60 [57] When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: [58] He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. [59] And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
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3. ENABLED TO BRING FORTH FRUIT (Numbers 17:8And 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.
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1. The Three Stages of Fruit
1. Buds
2. Blossoms
3. Almonds – Fruit
2. The Typology of the Almond Tree
1. Physical description
1. First tree to bloom in the spring
2. Has beautiful blossoms similar to peach tree blossoms
3. Yields fruit about ten weeks after it blossoms
4. Produces two types of nuts: sweet and bitter
2. Biblical usage
1. Occurs ten times in the Bible
2. First occurrence (Genesis 43:11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
   See All...): among the best of fruits
3. Last occurrence (Jeremiah 1:11-12 [11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. [12] Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
   See All...): speedy fulfillment of God’s word
3. Biblical typology
1. Pictures God’s speedy execution of His will after a time of quiet and apparent inactivity
2. General typology
1. Fruitfulness (the result, product or consequence of any action)
2. Hastening (will be fulfilled quickly)
3. Suddenness (fulfilled at a time unexpected)
4. The almond in Biblical usage
1. When God produces light (Exodus 25:31-34 [31] And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. [32] And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: [33] Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. [34] And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
   See All...; Exodus 37:17-22 [17] And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: [18] And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: [19] Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. [20] And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: [21] And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. [22] Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.
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2. When God confirms His work (Numbers 17:1-10 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. [3] And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. [4] And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. [5] And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. [6] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. [7] And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. [8] 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. [9] And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. [10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
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3. When God executes judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
   See All..., 5; Jeremiah 1:9-12 [9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. [10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. [11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. [12] Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
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3. A Type of the Resurrected Christ – as the Firstfruits (John 14:19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 [20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. [21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
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4. A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S APPROVAL (Numbers 17:9-11 [9] And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. [10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. [11] And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
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1. The Rods Returned to the Owners (Numbers 17:9And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
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2. Aaron’s Rod Kept as a Testimony (Numbers 17:10And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
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1. Aaron’s rod kept in the ark
2. The contents of the ark
1. Manna
2. Tables of stone
3. Aaron’s rod
3. Protection of the People (Numbers 17:10And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
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5. A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S JUDGMENT (Numbers 17:10-13 [10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. [11] And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he. [12] And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. [13] Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
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1. A Token against the Rebels (Numbers 17:10-11 [10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. [11] And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
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2. The Fear of the People (Numbers 17:12-13 [12] And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. [13] Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
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6. THE TYPOLOGY OF THE ROD
1. The Makeup of the Rod
1. Aaron’s Rod
1. Aaron’s rod was wooden.
2. Aaron’s rod had been crafted to be such.
2. Jesus Christ
1. The wood symbolizes humanity.  Jesus Christ was a man.
2. God the Father prepared a body in which His Son would live (Hebrews 10:5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
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2. The Rod Had Life.
1. Aaron’s rod
1. This rod had at one time been a part of a living tree.
2. This rod had been cut down.
2. Jesus Christ
1. Jesus Christ was a living branch (Isaiah 11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
   See All...; Isaiah 53:2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
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2. The Lord Jesus was crucified (Isaiah 53:8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
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3. The Rod Was Dead.
1. Aaron’s rod
1. Aaron’s rod was nothing more than a dead piece of wood.
2. Aaron’s rod was laid in the presence of the Lord with other dead rods.
3. Aaron’s rod was out of the site of the people.
2. Jesus Christ
1. Jesus Christ was dead and was buried with the wicked (Isaiah 53:9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
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2. Jesus Christ was out of the sight of the people for three days and three nights but was very much alive and working.
4. The Rod Became Alive Again.
1. Aaron’s rod
1. Aaron’s rod though dead received life again in the presence of God.
2. Aaron’s rod in this time of darkness was bringing forth buds, blossoms and almonds.
2. Jesus Christ
1. Jesus Christ was raised to life again. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit each had a part in this.
2. In the apparent absence of Christ, He was bringing forth fruit. He did so not only with those in Abraham’s bosom, but also with all of those who should trust in Him for everlasting life as well.
5. The Rod Declared the Identity of the Priest.
1. Aaron’s rod
1. Though the Lord had already chosen Aaron as His high priest, the budding of the rod settled the dispute openly.
2. Aaron’s rod was presented before the people as were the other rods.
3. Only Aaron’s rod had received life from the dead.
2. Jesus Christ
1. Though God the Father had already declared the Son as His Beloved, the resurrection settled the dispute openly (Colossians 2:15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
   See All...; Acts 10:40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
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2. The resurrection of Christ
1. Loosed the pains of death (Acts 2:23-24 [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
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2. Brought us justification (Romans 4:25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
   See All...; Romans 5:9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
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3. Gave us access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
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4. Enabled us to receive an inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4 [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
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5. Qualified Him to be Judge (Romans 14:9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
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3. The Lord Jesus was presented on earth to the people (Acts 1:3-4 [3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: [4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
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4. Consider all of the dead rods who receive the worship of men, yet only Christ has risen from the dead.
6. The Rod Was Placed Again in the Presence of the Lord.
1. Aaron’s rod
1. Aaron’s rod after being presented to the people was then returned to the presence of God.
2. This was a testimony to the people that Aaron was the Priest.
2. Jesus Christ
1. After Christ presented Himself to the people, He returned to the presence of the Father.
2. This places Him as the mediator between God and man. He is the one seated on the right hand of the Father and has all authority (1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
   See All...; Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
   See All...; 1 Peter 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
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CONCLUSION: Christ, as the Rod of God, is the eternal source of 1) power; 2) punishment; 3) protection.  We must look to Him for all things.