“God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name” (Heb 6:10).
By a miracle, only Aaron’s dead walking stick had sprung to life in the night as it lay in the tabernacle with the sticks of the other tribal leaders. In a process that would normally take months, buds, blossoms, and nuts all appeared in only a few hours. Clearly, God was declaring that He was at work behind the ministry of the priests. So the chapter following, Numbers 18, restates the awesome responsibilities of the priesthood. There was no cause for the priests to become proud or self-sufficient. First, they were reminded that they were responsible to keep the tabernacle clean—not so much physically clean as spiritually clean: “Then the Lord said to Aaron: ‘You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear the iniquity related to the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity associated with your priesthood’” (v 1). Like a fancy car with all the latest gimmicks, if the engine is clogged, you’re not going anywhere! Have you noticed that? Whenever Israel sinned, the whole nation ground to a halt in the desert. Progress could only be made when the sin was dealt with. I’m sure you’ve found that in your own life. Then the Lord reminds them that He has given the Levites to help in ministering to the priests, and they are to take responsibility for the setup, maintenance, and transport of the tabernacle (vv 2-4). However, verses 4-7 explain that the priests alone have access to the sanctuary, and no stranger is allowed near—on pain of death. In the rest of the chapter, they are reminded that the Lord looks after His servants, and has provided wonderfully for them (vv 8-32). In fact, they received the best (v 12). Likewise, “The Son of Man…will reward each according to his works” (Mt 16:27).