Blooming Rod
Scripture Reading: Numbers 17: 1–10
“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 …,” Numbers 17:5.
Blooming Rod
Father God, your way is above ours. Our way is natural, while yours is supernatural because it is superior to the natural. Our way is ordinary; yours is extraordinary. We ask that you have your way in our lives.
Are you one of the many Christian leaders dedicated to serving God who find that people, even those involved in your ministry, are complaining about your leadership? Have they left you wondering, “Did God truly call me? Why am I rejected by the ones I serve?”
Perhaps you desire to work for God, but people around you, including your family, are saying, “What will you eat? How will you get money to live?” Beloved, the fact that you are reading this is not a coincidence; it is a God- incidence. God is saying, “Come and lay your ministry of leadership, your rod, on my altar and I will cause your ministry to bloom.”
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 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. 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. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 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. 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. And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. 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. 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. 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,” Numbers 17:1–10.
In this passage, Moses and Aaron were leading the Israelites, but those same Israelites were murmuring against them, causing divisions among the people. The Lord got tired of seeing His ministers go through such stress, so He instructed each tribe of Israel to lay a rod at His altar. The rod that He caused to blossom overnight would indicate whom the Lord had chosen as Israel’s leader.
Beloved, are you determined in your heart to work for God’s ministry, but are being distracted by the murmurings of those people who are familiar with you? Do not be discouraged; the God of the supernatural can turn things around overnight. Just as God caused the rod of Aaron to blossom and bring forth almonds, God can cause your rod, your ministry of leadership, to be fruitful. This fruitfulness is the antidote for murmuring, rejection, distractions, and complaints. When distracters see your ministry flourish, they will fall silent and know that God has indeed called you. If you desire to work for God and know that He has called you, go all out for Him. Surrender your ministry to Him in prayer; lay your rod on His altar. Pray the Numbers passage and ask that He make your call known. God who causes the rod of His called to bloom will cause your rod to bloom. Your ministry will flourish. Our God is a God of the supernatural. Work for Him in holiness, in righteousness with a pure heart all the days of your life and you will experience fruitfulness.
Prayer Points:
Heavenly Father, you are faithful; you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Eternal Rock of Ages, today in this generation we pray for a blossoming rod. Cause the rod of your chosen leaders to bloom. Cause our ministries to bring forth fruit, to silence those who murmur, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
