Almond Staff

Num 17:13-24         11/25/2017

Moses was directed by God to gather the staffs of the twelve tribal leaders. Each wrote their name on their staff. Moses put the staffs before the Ark of the Covenant. The next day, Aaron’s staff had budded, formed leaves and flowers and produced mature almond fruit.

A sign.

The people could not believe that Moses and Aaron had things right with God. The Israelites believed in God (under the circumstances it would have been hard to deny) but they couldn’t understand how things kept going so wrong.

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes.

The Israelites felt like they were doing what they had been commanded. They were sure the problem was elsewhere.

Israelite Logic: So if the problem isn’t the Israelites, and it’s not God, then it must be Moses and Aaron.

The logic of self-justification.

Of course, this whole logic doesn’t work with Jesus. I can’t really hold to the belief that He is God, and that He is the high-priest who mediates between men and God the Father through His atoning sacrifice, and also claim that I am justified by my behavior.

But I’m still reluctant to change my behavior. In fact, through some strange metaphysical gymnastics, I like to imagine that my behavior doesn’t actually matter because I am justified by grace.

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes.

Cheap Grace. Bonhoeffer coined the term but it wasn’t unique to his experience.

Ripe almonds from a walking stick remind me that God has established order.

The call is to own my failings and work to get better. I commit to stop blaming others for my problems.

If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9