Numbers 17: This Bud's For You!

The short chapter of Number 17 describes God's response to Korah's rebellion.  In a proactive move, He instructs the heads of each tribe to offer a staff before Him overnight in the Tabernacle, along with a staff presented by Aaron (vs. 2-4).  In this way, God promises, He will make a distinction among them and show that He has specifically chosen Aaron and his family to serve Him as priests.  The next morning, a wondrous change has come over Aaron's staff - it has sprouted leaves, produced blossoms and even borne almonds!  Aaron's miraculous staff is to be kept in the Ark of the Covenant as a witness to future generations of God's choice (vs. 10).