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  MOSES OF OLD
  by Clement of Rome
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Summary: Moses' faithfulness and obedience to God are demonstrated
through his method of choosing the priests, highlighting God's
sovereignty and power.

Topics: "Church Leadership", "Divine Appointment"
Scripture References: Exodus 40:20, Numbers 17:1, Psalm 29:2, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Hebrews 3:5

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DESCRIPTION
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Clement of Rome reflects on the appointment of ministers by those in
Christ, drawing parallels to the faithful servant Moses who recorded
God's injunctions in the sacred books. He recounts the story of Moses
settling a rivalry over the priesthood by having the twelve princes of
the tribes present their rods, with Aaron's rod miraculously blossoming
to signify God's chosen priesthood. Clement emphasizes Moses' foresight
in preventing sedition and glorifying the name of the true God through
this miraculous event.

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CONTENT
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And what wonder is it if those in Christ who were entrusted with such a
duty by God, appointed those [ministers] before mentioned, when the
blessed Moses also, "a faithful servant in all his house," noted down in
the sacred books all the injunctions which were given him, and when the
other prophets also followed him, bearing witness with one consent to
the ordinances which he had appointed? For, when rivalry arose
concerning the priesthood, and the tribes were contending among
themselves as to which of them should be adorned with that glorious
title, he 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 and bound them [together], 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, as he had done the rods, and said to
them, Men and brethren, the tribe whose rod shall blossom has God chosen
to fulfil the office of the priesthood, and to minister to Him. And when
the morning was come, he assembled all Israel, six hundred thousand men,
and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes, and opened the
tabernacle of witness, and brought forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron
was found not only to have blossomed, but to bear fruit upon it. What
think you, beloved? Did not Moses know beforehand that this would
happen?

Undoubtedly he knew; but he acted thus, that there might be no sedition
in Israel, and that the name of the true and only God might be
glorified; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/clement-of-rome/moses-of-old/
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