Most of the snow has melted, and the weather is slowly shifting. Spring is almost here. The trees will soon bud, the cherry blossoms will bloom and the voice of children will be heard playing in the neighbourhood. The clock has already sprung forward and we’re just getting used to seeing the sun up in the later hours of the evening.

I’ve been reading through the Bible the last couple of weeks and I’ve landed in Numbers. Lots of names and sacrifices in this book but I read this verse which I’ve been thinking about for a few days now.

In Numbers 16, we see the leaders of Israel oppose Moses and Aaron as leaders. God sends a plague but Aaron ran into the midst of the people with his censer and God stopped the plague.

After this incident, God asked the people to bring the staff of their leaders from each tribe and have it placed in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant. The staff belonging to the man God will choose will sprout. This was to put an end to the grumbling against Moses and Aaron, God’s chosen priests.

Moses did as God told him and placed the staffs in front of the ark of the covenant. The next day something miraculous happened.

Aaron’s staff not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

There are specifically six different miracles that happened here.

1. The staff that was dead wood, was brought to life in such a dry place with no water and no sunlight.
2. The staff budded overnight, it usually takes weeks or months apparently.
3. It blossomed instantly
4. It produced almonds instantly
5. All the above happened at once and not in different growth stages.
6. It happened only in Aaron’s staff though all other leader’s staffs were kept in the same place.

What a wonderful miracle God did. Now there was no doubt among them who God had chosen as their leader.

Another interesting fact here is that the almond tree is the first tree to awake in spring. Feels like the perfect verse for this season? But here’s the best part, the Hebrew word for Almond tree (shaqed) is also similar to the Hebrew word for God’s watchfulness (shakad).

Let’s take a look at Jeremiah 1:11-12

“The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”” Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How amazing to think that God is faithfully watching to see His word being fulfilled in our lives. The God who awakens the almond tree as a sign of new beginnings will do the same for your life. You will see buds, blossoms and fruit in season even when it looks impossible. His word will come to pass.

He who formed you in the womb will not abandon you. The one who gave His life on the cross rose from the grave.

The God of resurrection, who brings life to dead things is watching to see that His word is being fulfilled. The promises He made in your life, He has not forgotten.

Spring is coming, friend. The winter will soon be past. And our God will keep His word.