February 15, 2026 - Numbers 17-20

The story of the budding of Aaron’s staff is interesting to me.  The people had continued to grumble against God and against Moses’ leadership.  So, God had Moses gather twelve wooden staffs with the names of the tribal heads engraved upon them.  On the staff for Levi, Aaron’s name was written.  The Lord then instructed, “You shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.  And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout” (17:4-5).  Lo and behold, Aaron’s staff sprouted!  Now, here’s the interesting thing for me:  This is the same Aaron who led the people to build the golden calf and to bow down before it (Exodus 32).  The story reminds us that the Lord can redeem and use even terribly flawed persons.  Remember Paul?  His life’s mission had been to destroy the church!  He gave thanks even as he recalled his own depravity:  “1 thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy . . . The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:12-15).  Aaron the idolater.  Paul the blasphemer and murderer.  We great sinners.  How merciful is our God!

Chief of sinners though I be,

Jesus shed his blood for me,

died that I might live on high,

lives that I might never die.

As the branch is to the vine,

I am his and he is mine!

Oh, the height of Jesus’ love,

higher than the heav'ns above,

deeper than the depths of sea,

lasting as eternity,

love that found me— wondrous thought—

found me when I sought him not.   --William McComb (1871)