Christian Gems – Past & Present: Excerpt from Notes on the book of Numbers by CH Mackintosh, chapters 17 & 18 But What About Moses’ Rod And here we may naturally inquire, What about Moses rod? Why was it not amongst the twelve? The reason is blessedly simple. Moses rod was the expression of power and authority: Aarons rod was the lovely expression of that grace that quickens the dead, and calls those things that be not as though they were. Now, mere power or authority could not conduct the congregation through the wilderness. Power could crush the rebel, — authority might strike the sinner; but only mercy and grace could avail for an assembly of needy, helpless, sinful men, women, and children. The grace that could bring almonds out of a dead stick could bring Israel through the wilderness. It was only in connection with Aarons budding rod that Jehovah could say, Thou shalt quite take away the murmurings of the children of Israel from Me, that they die not. The rod of authority could take away the murmurers, but the rod of grace could take away the murmurs. … Now, in this we have an illustration, not only of the divine accuracy of Scripture as a whole, but also of the special character and object of the book of Numbers. Aarons rod was in the ark during its wilderness wanderings. Precious fact! Let the reader seek to lay hold of its deep and blessed significance. Let him ponder the difference between the rod of Moses and the rod of Aaron. We have seen the former doing its characteristic work in other days and amid other scenes; we have seen the land of Egypt trembling beneath the heavy strokes of that rod; plague after plague fell upon that devoted scene in answer to that outstretched rod; we have seen the waters of the sea divided in answer to that rod. In short, the rod of Moses was a rod of power — a rod of authority. But it could not avail to hush the murmurings of the children of Israel, nor yet to bring the people through the desert. Grace alone could do that; and we have the expression of pure grace — free, sovereign grace — in the budding of Aarons rod. Nothing can be more forcible, nothing more lovely. That dry, dead stick was the apt figure of Israels condition, and indeed of the condition of every one of us by nature. There was no sap, no life, no power. One might well say: what good can ever come of it? None whatever, had not grace come in and displayed its quickening power. So was it with Israel in the wilderness, and so is it with us now. How were they to be led along from day to day? How were they to be sustained in all their weakness and need? How were they to be borne with in all their sin and folly? The answer is found in Aarons budding rod. If the dry, dead stick was the expression of natures barren and worthless condition, the buds, blossoms, and fruit set forth that living and life-giving grace and power of God on which was based the priestly ministry that alone could bear the congregation through the wilderness. Grace alone could answer the ten thousand necessities of the militant host. Power could not suffice, — authority could not avail: priesthood alone could supply what was needed, and this priesthood was instituted on the foundation of that efficacious grace which could bring fruit out of a dry rod.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 11:03:18 +0000
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