Faithful and Fruitful

Read Numbers 17-19.

God sovereignly selected the tribe of Levi to serve as priests for the nation.  Then, He chose Aaron to be the High Priest.  Aaron's spiritual leadership had been so challenged in the previous rebellion that God intervened with a sure vindication as to His choice of the Levites and Aaron in particular.

A chief of each of the twelve tribes presented a wooden walking staff to Moses for a test that God designed.  Imagine the miracle of life that God controls.  He can make even a piece of dead, carved wood to sprout.  But the next day when Moses went into the Tabernacle to see the results of the test he found more than anyone could have imagined.  Overnight, Aaron's staff had not only sprouted but produced ripe almonds.

God's miracles were always used to validate His message.  Here the stated purpose was to end the grumbling and rebellion against His chosen leadership.

Next, to further vindicate and solidify the ministry of the priests, God gave more specific instructions for them to carry out.

Two insights:
1. The requirement of stewardship is faithfulness.
To the Corinthians, Paul wrote: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
Whatever God has call us to do and wherever He has placed us to serve, we are to demonstrate that we can be trusted with the assignment.  Further, that we are faithful in fulfilling the assignment.

2. The requirement of leadership is fruitfulness.
By definition, the word leadership indicates that a group of people are going some place or endeavoring to achieve something.  There is inherent movement needed that requires someone to show the way.  Progress of any organization or organism is never constant; it is most often seasonal.  But over time, production, or fruitfulness, is a natural expectation. 

Yet, fruitfulness is not limited to leadership.  It is the the LORD's expectation of all His followers.  Note Jesus' words from John 15:
"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit." (v.5)
"By this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit and prove to be my disciples." (v.8)
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit..." (v.16)