Let’s pause to recap.  As we “march” through the wilderness with the Israelites we wonder; When will the they get it?!  When will they believe that God will always do what He says He will do?  Come on people, when will they stop grumbling about who is in charge with what they must do to get where God is leading them?  When will they believe in God’s care and protection?  When they were hungry God delivered food from the heavens quicker than Door Dash!  When they complained about what was on the table to eat, God graciously delivered quail to spice up the menu. When they were thirsty, God led Moses to fresh water.  God was with them day and night, guiding them like a loving father would over rough terrain and level ground on the journey.

But they didn’t like being told what to do.  Like a loving, watchful Father; God disciplined His children, teaching them His ways in all areas of their lives, “so all would go well with them.”  God gave them His Law of Commands to protect them from their own selfish ways that would lead them to trouble. God was teaching them through the Law how much He loved them and wanted to guide them faithfully.   God warned, Don’t fall for idols and do not make them.  Idols do not speak and have no value—Worship Me who speaks wisdom to you because of My love for you!  Have respect for all things I have made holy for you says the God of details for He knows what lies ahead of them.  If you do not, God tells them, you will be punished to remind you not to rebel against Me.  Sin has consequences.  I want you to learn and grow in my love!

God promised a land “flowing with milk and honey” that would produce crops beyond their dreams.  Then God led them there.  However, there were, (and will always be with any group of people) those I call the “yeah, but” people.  Ten out of the Twelve who scouted out the land said, no way, baby, it’s too dangerous. We will die!

From experience as a leader, trying faithfully to lead people, yeah-buts are exhausting.  But Moses being “the most humble man on earth” (Numbers 15) was patient and even stood in the gap for them before God as the yeah-buts attacked his leadership as well as Aaron’s, with also calling God’s bluff on many occasions. Yikes!  Don’t mess with God!

We must pause in our wonderings to ask better questions; When will we truly trust God in all circumstances—without first complaining?  When will we truly believe, without saying, “yeah, but,” to what God says He will do?

Numbers 17

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. ³ On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. ⁴ Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. ⁵ The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷ Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. ⁹ Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” ¹¹ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

¹² The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! ¹³ Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God chosen leaders deserve our respect and support, even during trying times. We must not take part in a rebellion or gossip against a leader—EVER!  Throughout God’s Word, God tells us to avoid grumbling and complaining.  But many of us do not.  We blame leaders for not enough people coming to church on any given Sunday and then when hundreds do come, we complain about the too crowded parking lot!  We complain if the worship team is too soft or too loud.  We complain that the sermon is too long and made us feel guilty.  Or we complain that the sermon just “didn’t feed” us.  God sees our hearts and hears our “yeah-buts” and oh frineds, how it must break his heart.  God is everywhere and goes everywhere with us.  If we do not walk into the worship center seeking God, with our focus on God; it is less likely we will see His glory at work or hear is Word of Truth and apply to our lives.

Consider this:  Are we a staff of God that blossoms with the fruits of His Holy Spirit—or just a stick in the mud?  Prayerfully ponder.  If we seek God; we will find Him, as He promised. But if you look hard enough and long enough, with eyes of discontent; we’ll find something to complain about easily, it’s in our sin nature.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Max Lucado writes;

“This is more than a silver-lining attitude, more than seeing the cup as half full rather than half empty. This is an admission that unseen favorable forces populate and direct the affairs of humanity. When we see as God wants us to see, we see heaven’s hand in the midst of sickness, Jesus working on a troubled youth, the Holy Spirit comforting a broken heart. We see, not what is seen, but what is unseen. We see with faith and not flesh, and since faith begets hope, we of all people are hope filled. For we know there is more to life than what meets the eye.”—Lucado Encouraging Word Study Bible

Trust God, He’s not bluffing.  Believe and Follow what He says.  Believe in His Son, Jesus who became The Way to reconnect (reconcile) to God, our Father who so loved the world.  Believe in Jesus who was, is and always will be the Truth among the “yeah, buts” who opposed Him.  Believe in Life—the eternal life—that was provided all because of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Continue to trust God when the way is rough and the future less bright than you want. Rely on God’s Holy Spirit—promised and delivered to us upon our believing in Jesus.  Allow Him to guide us and help us see and know Truth.

Stay loyal to our great Leader, who surely knows the way home.

Lord,

Help us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
‘Til ev’ry dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

Your Name is power, Your Name is healing
Your Name is life
Break every stronghold, shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

Shout Jesus from the mountains, and Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family, I speak the holy Name of Jesus…

(“I Speak Jesus,” Vineyard Worship)