2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12: A Branch Shall Grow and Bear Fruit

Isaiah 11:1-2
Amplified Bible (AMP)


"11 And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—..."


Approximately ten years ago, I had a spiritual experience. I saw a branch with six buds on it. As I gazed at the branch, a white dove flew down and alighted on it. Suddenly, the buds blossomed into beautiful, white flowers. I had had what is referred to as a vision. Not understanding what I had just seen, I sought the Lord for understanding of the imagery. God answered me through the above verse.

Later, I read Numbers 17, which increased my insight into the visual message the Lord had given. In brief, the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron accusing them of initiating a plague that had killed 14,700 people. However, This was not the case as Numbers 16:36-38 states,


36 And the Lord said to Moses,

37 Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning and scatter the fire at a distance. For the censers are hallowed—

38 The censers of these men who have sinned against themselves and at the cost of their own lives. Let the censers be made into hammered plates for a covering of the altar [of burnt offering], for they were used in offering before the Lord and therefore they are sacred. They shall be a sign [of warning] to the Israelites.

emphasis mine

Numbers 17 goes on to say that one rod for the head of each father's house should be presented before the Lord. The rod that buds and produces blossoms and yields ripe almonds is the man/house that God chose, and it was Aaron from the house of Levi.

I felt the Lord was telling me that I was called to be a Levite, the priestly tribe that ministered before the Lord. In addition, as the Holy Spirit influenced my life, I would bloom with the Spiritual fruit as listed above...wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord.

Writing this post today, I ask Holy Spirit,

Have I allowed You to grow these spiritual characteristics in me?

Lord, my life cannot bear blossoms and eventually fruit without Your influence. Come upon me this day, Spirit. Fill my vessel, cause me to lay down my life once again in obedience to You. Live through me, Jesus. Empower me, Lord, to walk through this life with the tools needed to be effective in my personal life, as well as, influencing others' lives. All for Jesus, AMEN!

http://www.ehow.com/about_6632257_symbolism-almond-trees.html

http://www.learnthebible.org/sunday-school-outlines/aarons-rod-that-budded.html