Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Numbers 17:8
I delight in finding the Trinity of God hidden in familiar passages of Scripture. I discovered one this one in the contents of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark of the Covenant contained three things: 1-the stone tablets upon which the finger of God wrote His covenant, 2-a golden pot of manna, and 3-Aaron’s rod that budded (Heb.9:4).
It is easy to see how the stone tablets symbolize God the Father because He is the initiator of all covenants with us. The Father invites us into covenant relationship with Himself. The God of the Universe offers a covenant promise to love us and be gracious to us now and for all of eternity. What a good Father He is!!!
The golden pot of manna represents Jesus. Jesus Himself proclaims, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die” John 6:48-50. So the first two symbols are clear enough. What about Aaron’s rod that budded? How does that represent the Holy Spirit?
I must admit that I was perplexed until I realized that Aaron’s rod had previously been just a dead stick. That dead stick had miraculously come to life after spending time in the Presence of the Lord. The dead had been resurrected to life! It grew and blossomed. And it bore ripe fruit!
Just like Aaron’s rod, we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph2:1). But God, being rich in mercy and because of His great love for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (Eph.2:4-5). Not only does God give life to our mortal bodies, He grows us up spiritually. And, if we abide in Him, He will allow us to bear much fruit (Jn.15:8).
Yes, the dead stick miraculously coming into abundant life IS symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous working in our own lives.
I am praising God for the Holy Spirit!!!