Submitted by Lara CookThen Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
Every day there are many that are being called by God to do something special and we ignore it. We quickly say “Not me, Lord I am too busy, or I’m not equipped. I don’t have what it takes”. If God calls you to something, He will equip you to do whatever it is He has called you to do. So, the truth is, you are probably already equipped!
What Do You Have in Your Hand?Moses was called by God to do an important job – lead the Children of Israel out of bondage and in to the Promised Land. It was a big job of utmost importance and requiring the greatest responsibility. Moses didn’t feelqualified, so he bucked God on this. When God appeared to Moses and told him this, Moses was tending some sheep, so he had his shepherd’s staff in his hand. God told Moses what He wanted him to do and Moses’ response was, “I can’t do that! I’m not qualified, and they will never believe me when I tell them God appeared to me and told me to be their leader.” Then God asked Moses, “What do you have in your hand?” Moses responded that it was a staff. God told him to throw it down on the ground and when he did, it turned into a snake. Moses moved away quickly but God said, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” When Moses reached out and grabbed it, it turned back to his staff. Then God said, “This is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has appeared to you.” In other words, this sign should make them listen to you.
God used something that Moses already had…his staff. God used Moses’ staff as an instrument of authority in his leading of the Children of Israel many times. It was part of his identity to begin with as a shepherd. It was a tool that he used to make a living. It was a tool of influence physically with the sheep, and when Moses surrendered to God it was a symbol of influence in his leadership.
The key here is that Moses had to lay it down before God could use it. He couldn’t see the power of God in that stick until he put it down. Moses had to surrender to God before God could use what He already had given him. When Moses did this, the staff was no longer Moses’ shepherding staff. It became God’s staff and Moses was the instrument through which it would be used.
What do you have in your hand today? Is your fist tightly closed, wrapped around a gift or tool that you have that could be used for God’s glory? Are you hiding away something you don’t want known because you don’t feel adequate to use it? Lay it down. He can’t use what is not offered. Surrender it to Him and your life will be blessed.
Scripture to Claim:As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11
