The Roddery | The Institute for Creation Research

The Roddery

"And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you" (Numbers 17:5).

It could be said that "the natives were getting restless" in the 16th chapter of Numbers, when the people grew weary of the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They didn't like what had happened to Korah and his wicked companions when God made the earth open and swallow them, so they challenged God's chosen leader, Moses, and in so doing, issued a challenge to God.

Enough was enough, and God sent a plague to consume the people. Moses and Aaron hurried to take a censor from the altar and offer incense among the people so as to assuage God's anger. This was accomplished, but not before 14,700 people died in the plague (Numbers 16:49). As a result, God decided to settle this issue of priestly authority once and for all, and proposed a test.

God commanded that each tribe submit a rod with the tribe's name on it, along with Aaron's rod for the tribe of Levi. Then he laid them in the tabernacle, where God would meet with Moses to work a miracle—make a dead rod blossom. Whichever tribe's rod blossomed would be the next set of leaders. This happened, and more, on the next day. Aaron's rod was the one chosen, but it not only budded, it brought forth blossoms, and yielded almonds. That budded rod became a testimony against the rebels from then on.

Thus we read about a roddery, not a lottery, of twelve possible outcomes. In the lottery, chance is the overriding factor, but in this roddery, God's will and perfect knowledge were the directing forces. In real life, there is no error or alternative—only certainty. "God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:7). KBC

The Latest
NEWS
Liberty and the Word of God
“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalm 119:45). July 4th is called Independence Day here in our country because on...

NEWS
July 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome...

NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...