The Pattern of Fruitfulness

UV 2799/10000 The Pattern of Fruitfulness
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.
Numbers 17 v 8

This uni-verse is about the pattern of fruiting: the leader or person who is in a covenant relationship with the Lord is like the rod of Aaron that budded and brought forth buds, blossoms and yielded almonds. Only the stick of Aaron brought forth such fruit when it was kept overnight along with the sticks of eleven other leaders of the tribes of Israel. Aaron was dedicated to serve alongside Moses. He was humble, obedient and faithful. He was in constant fellowship with the Lord. Hence, his stick grew and bore fruit miraculously. The stick of Aaron bore fruit when it was kept in the tabernacle of the covenant, implying that when we dwell in covenant relationship with Jesus, our leadership will not be barren but fruitful. The fruit or results will be spiritual, miraculous, useful for the kingdom of God. The rod of Aaron producing buds, blossoms and almonds is a symbol of the different stages in which the fruit of our lives are currently found in- some are buds, some are blossoms and some are matured into fruit.

Leadership is a dry stick except it be rooted in the Lord, saturated with His presence, it springs into life, the sap of spiritual life will flow in and through it. When we are grafted onto Jesus, we too bear fruit. We will bear fruit in season and out of season, in time and out of time, in favourable conditions and in unfavourable conditions. Though apparently like the rods of Israel, we have neither root nor branches, we will give an yield that is pleasing to the Lord. Almonds are a symbol of a wholesome, nutritious and tasty produce. Our words, actions and reactions will be wholesome and gracious. Only the rod of the Levite tribe of Aaron produced miraculous fruit. Likewise, only the ones who are grafted in Jesus, constantly communicating in the spirit with Him will produce fruit miraculously. The Word which is the spiritual water that both cleanses and satisfies our thirst for answers to the questions of life and the blood of Jesus that cleanses and sanctifies, the Holy Spirit who continually waters our faith are the three agents that enable us to produce miraculous and supernatural fruit in our lives. For it to happen, we need to dwell continually in the tabernacle of the Lord or rather that the Lord should dwell in our tabernacles, our bodies, our minds, our hearts, our spirits, our homes, our conversation, our lives.
What is lifeless will produce life, what is hopeless will be harbingers of hope. Such a supernatural happening will inspire awe, respect, reverence, love and hope in all who witness the produce of our lives. The tabernacle of faith in Jesus will be the tabernacle of witness. It will be the evidence of the reality of Jesus in our lives. Everyday the Lord examines us to see what fruit we bear. Seeing the fruit we bear will quieten the doubting, complaining and rebelling against the Triune God of the people who so witness the buds, the blossoms and fruit on the hitherto dry stick of our lives.
Prateep V Philip