The pericope I have chosen for this reflection paper is Numbers 17:1-13. This pericope is the last in a series of three stories about the revolt of the congregation of Israel against Aaron's position as high priest and the leadership of Moses. The first revolt came from Korah. Korah was a member of the tribe of Levi, the same tribe of Aaron (Exodus 6:16-20). Korah's rebellion is not only a personal attack on Aaron but also on his God-appointed priesthood. The second revolt led by Dathan and Abiram and the other 250 lay leaders challenged and rejected Moses' leadership. These rebellious leaders have a very democratic argument, that the will of the people must have greater authority than that of God's appointed leaders. God responds by killing all the leaders and supporters of these two rebellious parties. All of these events set the context for the text of Numbers 17:1-13. In this pericope, God asks Moses to set up one final test in order to show His approval for Aaron's priesthood. This final test is intended to put an end to the people's questioning and contestation of the authority of Aaron and Moses. During this final test, Moses must take a staff from each tribal leader. The name of each leader is written on his staff. Aaron's name is inscribed on the staff which represents the tribe of Levi. Moses places all these rods in the tent of meeting before the Lord. The next morning, Moses arrives at the tent and Aaron's staff sprouts, buds, flowers and produces ripe almonds. There is something interesting about the way the text describes Aaron's staff. The text does not simply say that Aaron's staff reaches the final stage of the production cycle and bears ripe almonds. The text lists in the middle of the paper ...... the hope that Jesus will return in the same way that he was taken up into heaven (Acts 1:11). The message of this pericope for Christians today is very clear: honor your spiritual leaders even when they fail to fulfill their calling. God gives salvation universally available to all, but God chooses some to save and of those He saves, He calls some to lead. There are always failures and corruptions waiting to happen in the ministries that God calls to lead, it is inevitable. God wants Christians to honor their spiritual leaders not for who they are but for what they do. A true spiritual leader does two main things: preach the Word of God (Hebrews 13:7) and care for the souls of other Christians (Hebrews 13:17). As long as a spiritual leader is committed to doing these two things, the Church, as the people of God, must submit to his leadership..