Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4b NKJV
The rod is throughout Scripture.
It can be seen in the hand of Aaron being used as the instrument of God before the Egyptians. (Exo. 7:19-20, 8:5, 8:16-17.)
Later when there was a dispute about who God had chosen to be the priest, Aaron’s rod was the sign. (Num. 17:8.)
God commanded Moses to do a variety of things with his rod. From frogs and lice to winning a battle, Moses and his rod were used to show God’s will.
How fitting that Moses also was the man God gave the Ten Commandments to as well as the Torah.
The rod continues through Scripture as either a symbol of authority and rulership or of correction. (Psa 110:2, 89:32, Pro 13:24, 22:15, 1Cor 4:21)
God even used a rod as part of the prophecy concerning the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1 NKJV — There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
Scripture is clear, Jesus was given His authority from God the Father. (John 5:26-27, 12:49)
He came to save (John 3:16-17), but He will one day rule the a rod of iron. (Rev. 2:27, Psa. 2:6-12)
Where is comfort in correction?
How can one find true freedom if being ruled by another?
Because true freedom isn’t being able to do whatever each person thinks is best, it’s being free from evil, sin, and death.
Romans 8:2 NKJV — For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Being ruled by Jesus is being led by the One Who truly understands what is best for every individual.
With the reminder that the Wise Men were not at the Nativity, but came later we are going to add them to our picture today. (Matt. 2:11)
The reason for adding the kings is a picture of how all kings are underneath the King of Kings.
They were kings, and they understood the child born, whose Star they followed, was King of the Jews. (Matthew 2:1-12)
Through the Scriptures we can see clearly, Jesus is the King of Kings. (Rev. 17:14)
1 Timothy 6:15 NKJV — which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Rev. 19:16 NKJV — And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
He is the only One who can rule and reign in complete righteousness, causing all those who submit to His salvation to rejoice in eternal life.
And with this understanding, we can look on the babe in the manger and truly see how His rod can comfort us.
patientlyhopeful 