convinced, but that they would on some future occa- sion renew their pretensions to the priesthood, and thereby provoke him to destroy them utterly. Of his own rich mercy therefore he proposed to give them a sign, which should for ever silence their murmurings and preclude the necessity of heavier judgments.
In opening this subject we shall shew, I. What God did to confirm the Aaronic priesthood —
He commanded the head of every tribe to bring a rod or staff to Moses, who inscribed on every one of them the owner's name. These all together were placed before the ark : and the people were taught to expect, that the rod belonging to that tribe which God had chosen for the priesthood, should blossom ; whilst all the other rods should remain as they were. On the morrow the rods were all brought forth. The owners severally took their own : and Aaron's was distinguished from the rest by the mark pro- posed ; " it was budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." The controversy being thus decided, God commanded that Aaron's rod should be brought again before the ark, and " be kept for a token against the rebels." How long it was preserved, cannot be ascertained ; but that it was for a very long period, is certain ; because St. Paul speaks of that, and the golden pot that had manna, as known appendages to the ark.a Thus its use was not confined to that generation : it remained to future ages,
1. An evidence of God's decision —
[The change wrought upon the rod in one single night, together with its having at once all the different stages of vege- tation, " buds, blossoms, fruit," this was sufficient to convince the most incredulous : no room could hereafter be left for doubt upon the subject. Nor do we find from this time even to the days of King Uzziah, that any one dared to usurp again the priestly office.]
2. A memorial of his mercv —
[Justly might the people have been utterly destroyed for their continued murmurings against God. But God here
a Heb. ix. 4,
164. J aaron's rod that budded. 99
shewed, that " he desireth not the death of sinners, but rather that they should turn from then wickedness and live." This was the avowed design of the test which God proposed; "It shall quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not." What astonishing condescension ! Was it not enough for him to make the appointment, but must he use such methods to convince unreasonable men ; to convince those, whom neither mercies nor judgments had before convinced? Had it been given, like Gideon's fleece, to assure a doubting saint, we should the less have wondered at it; but when it was given as a superabundant proof to silence the most incorrigible rebels, it remained a monument to all future ages, that God is indeed " full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great kindness."]
3. A witness for him, in case he should be hereafter
compelled to inflict his judgments upon them —
[It is well called " a token against the rebels." God might at all future periods point to it, and ask, " What could have been done more for my people, than I have done for themb?" Have they not procured my judgments by their own wilful and
obstinate transgressions c ? By this means, whatever
judgments he should from that time inflict, he would " be justi- fied in what he ordained, and be clear when he judged d."]
If we bear in mind that the Aaronic priesthood was typical, we shall see the propriety of considering, II. What he has done to confirm the priesthood of Christ—
The whole Epistle to the Hebrews is written to shew that the Aaronic priesthood typified that of the Lord Jesus, and was accomplished by it. This will account for the jealousy which God manifested on the subject of the Aaronic priesthood, and the care that he took to establish it on an immovable founda- tion. Whether there was any thing typical in the peculiar means by which it was established, we will not pretend to determine : but certain it is that there is a striking correspondence between the blossoming of Aaron's rod, and those things by which Christ's priesthood is established. Two things in particular we shall mention as placing beyond all doubt the appointment of the Lord Jesus to the priestly office :