First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

look with the eyes of our soul to His patient will. Let us reflect how free from anger He is toward all His creation. F irst C lement 43: And who should be concerned if those in Christ who were entrusted with such a duty by God appointed those mentioned? Consider the blessed Moses who was also “faithful in all God’s house as a servant” (Heb 3:5). He wrote in the sacred books all the commands which were given him, and the other prophets also followed him bearing witness with one mind to the ordinances which he had assigned. For when rivalry arose concerning the priesthood and the tribes were contending among themselves as to which of them should be given that glorious title, Moses commanded the twelve princes of the tribes to bring him their rods, each one being inscribed with the name of the tribe. And he took them, bound them, and sealed them with the rings of the princes of the tribes, and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God. And having shut the doors of the tabernacle, he sealed the keys, just as he had done the rods, and said to them, “Friends, the tribe whose rod will blossom has been chosen by God to fulfill the office of the priesthood, and to minister to Him” ( Num 17 ). And when the morning came, he assembled all Israel, 600,000 men, and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes, and opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought out the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed, but to also bear fruit upon it. What do you think, dear ones? Did Moses know beforehand that this would happen? Undoubtedly he knew. However, he acted in such a way that there might be no sedition in Israel, and that the name of the true and only God might be glorified. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.