The Rod That Budded

Read Numbers Chapter 17

ROD – rod, staff, Sceptre, sign of authority

 

 

 

 

It is important to note that every prince of each tribe had a rod brought before Moses.
All these Princes had some authority as regarded the tribes they were the head of.
The question was: Who was God giving the ‘divine call’ to as far as pertaining to things of the Tabernacle.

Judah   Nahshon son of Amminadab

Issachar   Nethaneel son of Zuar

Zebulon   Eliab son of Helon

Levi    Aaron son of Amram

Reuben   Elizur son of Shedeur

Simeon   Shelumeil son of Zurishaddai

Gad   Eliasaph son of Deuel

Ephraim   Elishama son of Ammihud

Manasseh   Gamaliel son of Pedahzur

Benjamin   Abidan son of Gideoni

Dan   Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai

Asher   Pagiel son of Ocran

Naphtali   Ahira son of Enan

Almond  –  to watch for    –    The Israelites sculpted the almond with its knops and flowers

                                                  for the ornamentation of the cups of the golden candlestick.

What did the Almond, its knops and flowers represent on the Golden Candlestick that God chose
the exact same fruit to bud from Aaron's rod?

Candlestick – Jesus the light of the world (Exodus)

                       Church (Revelation) the Church is to reflect the light of God

                       Oil for the lamp (represents the Holy Ghost)

 

Rod  –  authority

Almond  –  watchfulness

Candlestick  –  Light of the world

Next, it is important to note that all three stages of the growth of the Almond are on
the rod of Aaron at the same time as well as on the Candlestick.

Knop = sepals     Flowers = petals    Almond = fruit

Exodus 25:31, 33

"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.
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 six branches that come out of the candlestick."

Numbers 17:8

"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."

Remember that all the furniture in the Tabernacle was made after the pattern of the heavenly.

Hebrews 8:5

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God
when he was about to make the tabernacle: for see, saith he, that thou make all things 
according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."

Jeremiah’s Divine Call

Read Jeremiah Chapter 1:1-12

Jeremiah 1:11-12

"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou?
And I said, I see a rod of an almond (to watch for) tree.  Then said the LORD unto me, 
Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it." 

What word did God give Jeremiah just before he said he would hasten to perform it?
It was God's call to Jeremiah to the ministry.  The following is an excerpt taken off
the internet from Wikipedia:

"The Almond tree grows in Syria and Israel,  and is referred to in the Bible under the name of: 'Shaked',
meaning 'hasten'.  In Israel the tree flowers in January.  Among the Hebrews it was a symbol of 
watchfulness and promise due to its early flowering.  In Numbers 17, Aaron for the tribe of Levi is 
chosen from the other tribes of Israel by a rod that brought forth almond flowers."

Note that God said 'he had well seen'.  Rod signifies authority, thereby giving Jeremiah the
authority to 'watch for the word of the LORD', and then proclaim it to the people.

What was the purpose of the Candlestick in the Holy Place?
   To shed light on the Word of God.

What are the almonds on the candlestick representing?
   They were the Ripe fruit or Maturity.

Let's go a step further, In Revelation the Candlestick represent a Church -
seven Candlesticks - seven Churches.  The Church is to be a light to the world by watching for
and shining light upon the Word of God as it receives it from God, it job, then, is to 
proclaim it to the world.

Matthew 28:18-20

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all thins whatsoever I have commanded you:
and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

To be continued with ‘Jacobs divine call’.