Miraculously Natural

In order to demonstrate conclusively that He Himself had set apart the tribe of Levi from the rest of the people, G-d told Moses to take the staffs of the princes of each of the 12 tribes and place them next to the Ark in the inner chamber of the Tabernacle. Moses did so, and Aaron’s staff miraculously sprouted almonds overnight, whereas the other staffs remained unchanged.

On the following day, Moses came into the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron’s staff for the house of Levi had blossomed. It gave forth blossoms, sprouted buds, and produced ripe almonds. 

Numbers 17:23

Even though the fact that Aaron’s staff produced almonds overnight was an overt miracle, the natural process of flowering and fruiting was followed. This is because a miracle is more miraculous when it permeates the non-miraculous processes of nature.

A lesson here for us is that in performing our own “miracles,” i.e., in fulfilling our mission of revealing the Divine purpose behind creation, we should indeed act with the greatest alacrity (just as Aaron’s staff produced fruit miraculously quickly), but at the same time take care to follow the natural steps involved in achieving our goal. This will ensure that we reveal Divinity in all aspects of mundane life, even those that appear to function “by themselves,” i.e., according to the orderly processes of nature.

—From Daily WIsdom