Dear BAGBR Churches,  

Numbers 17: 1 “…get from them a rod for each father’s household…you shall write each name on his rod.”  

The rod was a visible symbol of age and authority.  Those who were strong and young seldom needed a rod to steady themselves as they walked.  Rods or staffs were also connected with the occupation of a shepherd as he managed a flock. Seldom was the leadership of a particular tribe given to a young person because they lacked the wisdom and life experiences needed to be entrusted with such a great responsibility.  Those who were considered elders and leaders of each respective tribe carried a rod.  Moses’ request was that each tribe submit a rod that would represent their respective tribe, and to avoid confusion about whose rod was whose. Thus, the name of the tribe or leader, was etched on it.  All these were collected along with the Rod of Aaron and brought into the tent.  The rod that blossomed, in the presence of the Lord, would be God’s way of designating who He had chosen to have authority over all of Israel.  As such, the next day, only one rod was bearing fruit—the Rod of Aaron.  This was God’s gracious way of showing the others on whom His authority rested.  The previous few chapters were about who God had put in charge over the nation, and thus, who should lead and to whom the nation would give allegiance.  This was the final way that God would demonstrate His choice and silence the questioning about Moses’ leadership. 

How do we establish our leadership and authority before our congregations?  Do we demand followship, do we keep telling others that we are God’s anointed, do we somehow try to manipulate decisions so that we are able to coalesce others around us that will back us?  All these are ways that have been tried, right or wrong!  But for the man of God, the servant of the Lord, God’s desire is that we enter with Him into the sanctuary, the tent, the place of meeting, and allow God to so work in our life, that we bear fruit in ways that will only be seen as the work of God.  We are but a dry stick, and yet God alone produces supernatural, living fruit from and through our lives.  Do we want to have God’s authority?  We must go into the sanctuary, the closet, get alone with God and surrender. Submit unto Him all that we are, not trying to prove our authority, but surrendering to God. Obey Him, and He will work in such a way that His approval and authority will rest upon our life, and we will not need to demand it, but will command it.

In  Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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