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Numbers 16 speaks of man's rebellion against God's deputy authority and how man opposed God's deputy authority; chapter 17 speaks of God's vindication of His appointed authority:
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God vindicated to everyone that deputy authority is according to His appointment—v. 5.
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Since the rebellion of Korah and his company was related to the priesthood (16:3, 8-10), the budding of Aaron's rod was a vindication indicating that Aaron was the one accepted by God as having authority in the God-given ministry of the priesthood (17:2-10).
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The budding rod of Aaron typifies the resurrected Christ—the budding, blossoming, and fruit-bearing Christ—who imparts life to others—v. 8:
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Christ, the greatest budding rod in the universe, imparts life to others; He always flows out life to enliven others—John 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:3.
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Today Christ is still budding, and we are the fruit, the almonds, of His budding.
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In typology a rod signifies authority—cf. 1 Cor. 4:21:
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In Numbers 17 the rods represented the leaders of the twelve tribes (v. 2), and Aaron's rod represented the tribe of Levi (v. 3).
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It was God's intention that the budding of a dead rod would cause the murmurings of the people to cease.
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Through the budding of the rod, God spoke to the Israelites and also to Aaron—v. 8.
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The budding rod signifies our experience of Christ in His resurrection as our authority in the God-given ministry—Heb. 9:4; Num. 17:1-10:
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The budding, blossoming, fruit-yielding rod signifies the resurrection life of Christ with its authority—v. 8; John 11:25.
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Resurrection is the basis of authority—2 Cor. 1:8-9; 10:8; 13:4, 10:
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The budding rod indicates that authority is based on resurrection—Num. 17:8.
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The basis of God's appointment of authority is resurrection—2 Cor. 1:8-9; 10:8; 13:10.
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The basis of God's vindication of His appointed authority is resurrection—Num. 17:5, 8.
Morning Nourishment
Num. 17:8 And on the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and there was the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi: it had budded; it even put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds.John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes into Me, even if he should die, shall live.
God commanded the twelve leaders to take twelve rods according to the twelve tribes of Israel, and put them in the Tent of Meeting before the Ark. Then He said,”And the rod of the man whom I choose shall bud” (Num. 17:5). Arod is a piece of wood. It is a branch that has been stripped of its leaves and roots. It once was living but now has become dead. It once derived its sap from the tree, being able to blossom and bear fruit, but now has become dead. All twelve rods were leafless, rootless, dry, and dead. Whichever one budded was the one that was chosen by God. Here we see that resurrection is the basis of God's selection. It is also the basis of authority. (CWWN, vol. 47,”Authority and Submission,” p. 243)
Today's Reading
Numbers 16 speaks of man's rebellion against God's deputy authority and how man opposed God's appointed authority. Chapter 17 speaks of God's vindication of His appointed authority. The basis of God's vindication of His appointed authority is resurrection. By resurrection He stopped man's murmuring. Man, of course, has no right to question God in the first place, but God condescended Himself to tell man the reason and basis for His appointment of authority. The basis for His appointment of authority is resurrection. This shut the mouth of the Israelites.Both Aaron and the Israelites were descendants of Adam and both were fleshly. By nature and according to their natural disposition, they were both sons of wrath; there was no difference between them. All twelve rods were the same. They were all leafless and rootless rods, dead and lifeless. This shows us that the basis of service is something apart from our natural life. It is the resurrection life we receive from God that gives us authority. Authority has nothing to do with man but with the resurrection that is manifested through man. Aaron was no different than all the other persons. His distinction was in God's choosing and the resurrection life which God granted him. From this we see that the basis of authority is resurrection.
Arod signifies human position, while budding signifies the resurrection life. As far as position is concerned, the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes occupied a position of leadership. Aaron represented the tribe of Levi and was no different than the others in his representation of his own tribe. Aaron could not serve God based on his position, because his position was the same as all the others. In fact, this was why the other tribes objected to his leadership….Resurrection is the mark that God recognizes. He only recognizes those who have passed through death and resurrection as His servants. Hence, the mark of ministry is resurrection. A man cannot base his service to God on his position. He must base it on God's selection. After God caused Aaron's rod to bud, blossom, and bear fruit, the tribes saw it, and they had nothing more to say.
If there is any authority in us, this authority comes from God, not from us….Whenever we trust in the Lord, we see authority. Whenever we express the natural life, we become the same as everyone else, and there is no authority in us whatsoever. Only that which issues from resurrection results in authority. Authority is based on resurrection, not on ourselves. No ordinary rod can be placed before God. Only a rod of resurrection can be placed before Him. Furthermore, resurrection is found in the budding rod. It is not a general resurrection but a full resurrection. It is not just a faint expression of the resurrection life but a life that has budded, blossomed, and brought forth fruit. This is resurrection life in maturity. Only one matured in resurrection life can act as God's deputy authority. The more resurrection life is expressed through us, the more authority we will have. (CWWN, vol. 47,”Authority and Submission,” pp. 243-245, 251-252)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 47,”Authority and Submission,” ch. 15