Numbers 17

Aaron’s staff was thenceforth kept in the Most Holy Place near (or inside) the ark of the Testimony (verse 10). Aaron’s staff thus joined the jar of manna (Exodus 16:33–34) and the Testimony itself, the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments (Exodus 25:16). All three of these holy objects are mentioned in Hebrews 9:4.

12–13 The Lord said that Aaron’s staff would be a sign that would end the Israelites’ grumbling, so that they [would] not die (verse 10). But the Israelites by this time were filled with fear. They knew that if they came anywhere near the tabernacle they would die; how, then, would they be able to approach their Lord?

The answer: they needed a mediator who could approach the Lord for them; that mediator was the high priest, assisted by the priests under him. The Israelites had needed a mediator (Moses) at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:18–19); they needed a mediator (Aaron) to stop the plague (Numbers 16:47–48). And they would continue to need a mediator until the one true Mediator and Priest came, Jesus Christ, who Himself would open the way for each believer to approach the very throne of God (see 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14–16; 10:19–23).

“Are we all going to die?” asked the Israelites (verse 13). No, they wouldn’t die as long as they followed the rules laid down in the next two chapters. But why only now had the Israelites begun to fear God? They had seen earthquakes, fire and plague; but it required the silent sprouting of a dead stick to make them see the awesome but gracious power of Almighty God. The staff had sprouted for their sakes, so that they might not die. Likewise, Jesus was raised from death to life so that we might not die.