Your Staff Sprouts Series

Text: Numbers 17:1-11

Topic: My Chosen will sprout

Introduction:

The theme for this month is Now it springs up. All, the spiritual leaders, political leaders, sports personalities, young and old alike on the phase of the earth had a great expectation on the dawn of 2020. However, this year has not begun with fatty blessings. But, brought the Coronavirus with a symbol of the crown of destruction. How many losses in personal and community lives. The lockdown of the nations has stopped the movements of the flights and ships. India had witnessed the forceful shutdown of everything by the implementation of the 144 and Disaster Management Act since the end of March 2020. It has witnessed the closure of the business centers.

But on this day God gives us the hope that “Your Staff will Spring” means your lives would sprout for the glory of God. All the dryness will vanish, and your hope will spring forth for the greatness of God. For that you and I need to make these statements:

My Rod is Lord’s Rod

My Rod is placed in the presence of God, and

My Rod is the Chosen Rod of God

1. My Rod is the Lord’s Rod.

A rod is a symbol of authority, and shepherds would use a rod to guide and correct their sheep (Psalm 23:4). The rod represents the identity, and personality of everyone (Ref: Enduring Bible). The rod is a picture of God’s authority over the man (Psalm 2:9, 23:4, 89:32; Isaiah 10:24; 11:4, Ezekiel 20:37). The rod is an emblem of an apostle’s authority in the church (1 Corinthians 4:21).

Now, every one of us has gifted with a Rod. The staff may refer to our profession, business, establishments, and a vision to do something for the community and God. The first question put forth here is, whether my Rod is God’s Rod? Does my thinking, planning, visioning are from my desires or an outcome of my relationship with God?

Without God, I am a dry staff. I could not expect anything to come out of it. Unless the Lord chooses me and blesses me, nothing would happen to my rod. I would use all the best ways and means in my life, but everything will go in vain without proper direction and guidance of God.

The exodus history reveals that God had changed the simple shepherd staff of Moses into a rod of God (Exodus 4:2, 20) after an encounter with God, after reshaping of the Rod at the presence of God, after going through the miraculous process. The lifeless staff has received the life, revived, and empowered as a powerful instrument in the hands of Moses. The ordinary staff has turned into an extraordinary instrument in the hands of Moses, for greater a wider vision and mission of God.

The Rod of Moses has turned the waters of the Nile into blood (Exodus 7:17), by brought forth plagues of frogs (Exodus 8:5), lice (Exodus 8:16-17), hail (Exodus 9:23), and locusts (Exodus 10:13). Not only that that same Rod has helped to divide the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16), the Rod has been used in prayer to get victory in a battle (Exodus 17:9), that rod struck the rock and brought forth water (Numbers 20:11).

When our Rods, our resources, our talents placed in the hands of God, that does greater things for God. God used simple instruments for the result-oriented ministries in the past. Examples are: David used a stone to kill Goliath. Samson used a jaw of a donkey to kill enemies. We have also energized through the words and spirit of God. Whatever small and insignificant resources and talents you have possessed, it has to go through this miraculous experience in life. Commit your staff to the holy hands of God.

2. I Place my Staff in the Presence of God

You shall then deposit them in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) in front of [the ark of] the Testimony, where I meet with you. It shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will bud. The rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had sprouted and put out buds and produced blossoms and yielded [ripe] almonds. (Numbers 17:4-5, 8- Amplified Bible)

God told Moses to bring all the rods of the people who are complaining, grudging, and place them in the house of meeting with God. Moses has put all the 12 rods, but only the rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had sprouted and put out buds and produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. The various stages of its natural growth were all exemplified together. It was a miracle. Only the presence of God, and only through meeting the Lord, we could experience the power of God as a miracle in our lives. Always take a sincere attitude of prayer to a greater altitude. Prayer seminars, prayer programs, planning for the chain of prayer will bring nothing but the real-time spent in prayer could result in unbelievable changes.