Spirit of Uncleanness

Numbers 17:8-9, 10-11

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

Remember that time when God had to tell Aaron to put his clothes on in the house of God and wash himself. How dare the Lord tell the priest of God how to act. Yet these verses give heed to some disorder in the house of the Lord. Indeed, even now it has spread throughout the people. Is that not just how the devil does. Herein we see the visitation by the spirit of uncleanness. It manifested itself in all sorts of foul behaviors and heart attitudes. The main symptoms to be on the lookout for seem to be complaints and a low murmuring noise. It might seem to you that Aaron should not have been included. If I were the Lord, I would have looked at his appearance once and then dismissed him. But that is not how God does. See, the Lord is far more interested in the heart of a man than his appearance anyway. It seems the Lord's chosen deliverer from this situation neither looked, sounded, nor smelled like the other men. Yet the Lord chose to use him all the same in spite of his mess and his brokenness. How many of you know that when God is for you, no one can be against you. So, Aaron served the Lord faithfully, doing whatever asked, for as long as it took. So also, he trained up his children and those of his house to follow God's service uprightly as he did himself. Look how the Lord blessed Aaron's house for his faithfulness unto him. Here he is commended for his role as a good servant of God. At no other time do we see the Lord having to address Levi's lack of clothing and manner of dress in the tabernacle ever again. Here we see how the Lord deals with secret sins that spread throughout the people and secret shame which by ministry becomes a sense of public responsibility. This text is important by reason of what is going on even today in certain regions of the world. Hold on a minute. Let us look at who Aaron is before the Lord.

Sometimes these secret sins and hidden things can creep in at unexpected times and do much damage. Did not Moses go to the Midianites and his father-in-law alone. When he went there, he had no one but the Lord. It appears he was once raised up in the house of Egypt to deliver God's people. Yet when he returned from the desert he came with a priest of God for a brother-in-law and a mixed ancestral wife. Somebody look me in the eye and tell me that is not important. Due to his origin and lack of upbringing in God's house until now, Aaron doubtless knew no better. Some of you might wonder from whence I get my information. Hold that inquiry for a moment. I am getting to a deeper look at the ancestry.com as it were of this chosen deliverer. Know this, my friends. God alone can save. But sometimes he brings his servants along with him, moving them as it were into better positions to do his work. For so he is God. He does whatever he will with whomever he pleases and none can tell him otherwise. If you have an issue with who he sent, take it up with him rather than with his messenger to prevent rather embarrassing scenes like this from occurring. Indeed, the consequences were more than embarrassing to the muttering people. They came with swift, sudden, and life-threatening complications. In Numbers 17:12-13, we see the people complaining of dying before the Lord for seemingly no reason at all.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he.

Yet note the blessing upon his house and that of Levi forever. Hebrews 9:4 sees this branch contained in the ark of the Covenant of God as a testimony of his faithfulness. Later at the end, the Heavens will be opened as in Revelation 11:19 to show only one thing. See, the covenant ark itself with all therein being received up to God and to his throne. Little wonder than at the budding of a cut branch set aside all by itself. The text here says it grew not only flowers but fruit also. Now I know some of you are saying that nuts are not a sort of fruit. Yet I believe your children would beg to differ. For are they not the fruit of your own loins, or someone else's in cases of adoption. Here we see several promises set aside against the end of all things. First is that of Isaiah 35:1 wherein the certainty of the desert blossoming like a rose is to be seen. Today you can find the desert in those hot, dry, arid lands between the rivers of water. Maybe you and I cannot yet see this promise worked out in reality. But one day soon by faith we will. Second, the cut branch is seen being grafted into Israel once more. You might be tempted to wonder how I know. For so does Romans 11:16-26 testify of such. Herein lies the mystery of Israel the tree and of the branches which were cut and even now have begun to grow as of their own accord. Then too, see the promise of such for when the sins be atoned for and the wildness done away.

How many are the branches set aside for the healing of the nations. You know, that one spoken of by Revelation 22:2. That one planted in the midst of the street over there however unseemly. That one planted by the rivers of waters for God himself is life. That one which bears fruit all by itself whose root is in God. That one which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. So, it heals many for it is in touch with the Giver thereof, that of the Lord. Has not the Lord given them a tree all by themselves at last that none shall touch nor shall their part therein be taken away. My, all this murmuring and confusion sounds exactly like that of the church today whenever anything important happens. Some of you should not feel a certain way when God begins to elevate and promote you once more. Herein lies the surety of his promise. Rather, it is a call to personal holiness, to continue walking as you ought before the Lord. In time will he not bring his righteousness forth from you. Even so will he make your righteousness shine as noon day of Psalm 37:6.

Some of you get so hung up on what happens in the times and seasons that you miss what the Lord has been doing all along. The story began with Aaron doing as the Lord commanded. Yet see how it ends with Moses doing whatsoever he has been told. I imagine it put some fear of God into him. See the power of God and the testimony of a life well-lived for him. If you have the Lord's promotion upon you it matters not what man shall do or say against you. For when you are in him, and they speak against you do they not also touch the body of the Lord also. For some of you forget oh so easily how he is near unto those that fear him. Is not this human body the temple of his Spirit also. Some of you really need to do more of what the Lord has said and less of your own stuff. All that mess and distress of which you are so fond or long to be rid is not of him. Thus, you see the spirit of uncleanness has no place to be found in the house of the Lord.

Notice here Aaron's job as the priest was to come before God to the people. Yet here there is an issue between the people and him. Is it not funny that God always seems to have his children's back especially those of his servants. Nor will he allow such disorder to remain in his house for long. See how he addresses the rebels, those breathing out threats and mutterings against God's chosen deliverer. I can almost hear them now, 'did God really send him?' Yes, my friends, in fact he did. If you have issue with that, I suggest you rather ought to take it up with him. Sometimes some of us dislike the message and sometimes the deliverer. But when God is the one preaching it, best to take care lest you also find yourself in need of such. So, it seems that some deliverance was needed from these secret sins and strange ways lest they also lead down to the grave. While Psalm 16:10 promises to deliver his holy one from death and his loved one from corruption, such paths are neither holy nor loved.

Thus, those that practice such have not that assurance. What a contrast this scene is to Jeremiah 3:14. So then, what a comfort it is to see that God never makes mistakes. With him all things are perfect and decently in order just as they should. Notice how he does not allow the present condition to define us. Nor will his people remain this way if ever for long. For just as he did with Gomer, God is bringing his children out. See, while the issue remained with Aaron, God could not allow it to remain unchecked. Notice how he sent out Moses to "quite take away" the mutterings from among them that these "die not." Now perhaps you dislike the message and maybe even the deliverer. But my dear friends, let me ask the question. When have you ever loved Jesus Christ anyway much less to do his will as of the Father which sent him. As hard as it is to hear it, so also does Matthew 25:40 say, "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."