这是一个超自然和令人难以置信的征兆。神说：“我所拣选的那人，他的杖必发芽。” 一根没有生命的手杖竟然会起死回生！
每一个支派的那根杖，包括利未支派亚伦那一根，都被放在耶和华的会幕内；到了第二天，亚伦的杖不但已经发了芽，更生了花苞、开了花、结了熟杏，那根杖已经完成了开花结果的全过程。
亚伦的杖是一个征兆，它表明亚伦的家族已蒙神拣选担任祭司的职份-为神的子民献祭给神和向神祷告，亚伦的杖也指向将来要降临的奇妙大祭司耶稣。亚伦的杖不但发了芽，它更结了熟杏，这根杖看起来很像会幕中那有叶子和杏花图案的灯台（出埃及记 25:31-36），而灯台则预表耶稣是世界的光（约翰福音 8:12）。亚伦的杖是恩典的征兆，它代表神与衪的子民同在，并且赐他们亮光和生命。
像亚伦的杖那样，耶稣也生长“如嫩芽，像根出于干地”（以赛亚书 53:2）。衪是最伟大的主仆，衪更成为我们最伟大的大祭司（希伯来书 9-10）。当来赞美神，因为我们的神在基督里与我们同在，在基督里拯救我们。
天父啊，就如你赐以色列民一个拯救和与他们同在的征兆，你也让我们看见耶稣的拯救。我们感谢你的恩典。阿们。
民数记 17
1耶和华对摩西说：
2“你晓谕以色列人，从他们手下取杖，每支派一根。从他们所有的首领，按着支派，共取十二根。你要将各人的名字写在各人的杖上，
3并要将亚伦的名字写在利未的杖上，因为各族长必有一根杖。
4你要把这些杖存在会幕内法柜前，就是我与你们相会之处。
5后来我所拣选的那人，他的杖必发芽。这样，我必使以色列人向你们所发的怨言止息，不再达到我耳中。”
6于是摩西晓谕以色列人，他们的首领就把杖交给他，按着支派，每首领一根，共有十二根，亚伦的杖也在其中。
7摩西就把杖存在法柜的帐幕内，在耶和华面前。
8第二天，摩西进法柜的帐幕去。谁知利未族亚伦的杖已经发了芽，生了花苞，开了花，结了熟杏。
9摩西就把所有的杖从耶和华面前拿出来，给以色列众人看。他们看见了，各首领就把自己的杖拿去。
10耶和华吩咐摩西说：“把亚伦的杖还放在法柜前，给这些背叛之子留做记号。这样，你就使他们向我发的怨言止息，免得他们死亡。”
11摩西就这样行。耶和华怎样吩咐他，他就怎样行了。
12以色列人对摩西说：“我们死啦！我们灭亡啦！都灭亡啦！
13凡挨近耶和华帐幕的是必死的。我们都要死亡吗？”
"Aaron's staff . . . had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds." - Numbers 17:8
It was a miraculous, incredible sign. God said, "The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout." A dead stick would come to life!
One staff from each tribe, including Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi, was placed before the Lord in the tabernacle. And by the next day, Aaron's staff had not only sprouted, but it had also budded, blossomed, and grown almonds. It had gone through all the stages of fruitfulness.
Aaron's staff was a sign that his family was chosen by God to do the work of priests—offering sacrifices and prayers to God for the people. Aaron's staff also pointed ahead to the coming of our great High Priest, Jesus. Aaron's staff not only sprouted but also grew almonds. It looked a lot like the lampstand in the tabernacle with its leaves and blossoms (Exodus 25:31-36), and the lampstand was a sign pointing to Jesus as the light of the world (John 8:12). Aaron's staff was a gracious sign that God was with his people to give them light and life.
Like Aaron's staff, Jesus grew up "like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground" (Isaiah 53:2). He was the ultimate Servant of the Lord, and he became our ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 9-10). Praise God that in Christ our God is with us to save.
Heavenly Father, just as you gave Israel a sign of your saving presence, you have shown us that Jesus saves. Thank you for your grace. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
