Aaron's Rod That Budded

Aaron’s rod that budded.  If you are like me, you might remember from Sunday School the account of Aaron’s rod that budded as being one of the items placed in the Ark of the Covenant.  We read this, “Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant” (Hebrews 9:4).  However, do we remember why God caused Aaron’s rod to bud, blossom, and produce almonds (Numbers 17:8).  It was because of grumbling and complaining about who should be in authority, as some where rebelling against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16).  So, God instructed Moses to have a leader from each tribe bring a staff with their name on it and that the staff of the man that God chose would sprout (Numbers 17:5).  We later read that this was “a sign for the rebels, so that you may put an end to their complaints before me, or else they will die” (v.10).  Aaron’s budding staff was a reminder of God’s choice, to put an end to the complaining, and God’s mercy, because the alternative was to kill the rebellious complainers.