WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?

" So the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?' He said, ‘A rod.'"  Exodus 4:2)

Moses has been on the back side of the desert for forty years. After living for forty years in Egypt, raised in Pharaoh's house, being "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and . . . mighty in words and in deeds" (Acts 7:22), he was now taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro. He had been doing this for forty years–the same amount of time he spent in the king's palace.

This particular day seemed like any other one. Nothing significant had happened in forty years, and there was no need to expect the dullness of life would change. Moses led Jethro's sheep to the back side of the desert, and came to "the mountain of God, even Horeb" (Ex 3:1).  This is the very first mention of this mountain in the Bible, and there is no indication that Moses knew of its significance at that time. This was nothing less than Mount Sinai, from which the Law of God would be spoken later (Deut 33:3,6).

While near this holy mountain, "the angel of the Lord" appeared "in flames of fire from within a bush" (Ex 4:2). Although the bush was burning, it was not consumed by the fire. The sight caught the attention of Moses, and he said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt" (4:3). Not everyone is intrigued by the working of the Lord. Moses' action was especially noted by God, and He called to him "out of the midst of the bush," "Moses, Moses!" Instantly Moses responded, "Here am I." This was the Mount of God, and thus Moses was told to remove his shoes, "for the place where you stand is holy ground" (3:5).

      God then identified Himself to Moses, declaring He had seen the affliction of His people in Egypt, and heard their cries. He was going to deliver them from Egypt, and bring them into a land "flowing with milk and honey," driving out its present occupants. He further told Moses, "I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (3:10).

Moses saw the magnitude of the work, and concluded he was unequal to it. He had been away from any significant role for forty years. You will recall the Lord reasoned with Moses, giving him a token of the reality of the call. "When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain" (3:12). He then revealed the name by which Moses was to identity God to the people, and told him of the mighty signs and wonders He would accomplish in the coming deliverance. He even told Moses he would cause the Egyptians to pay Israel to leave, saying "You shall plunder the Egyptians" (3:22).

Still, because of the greatness of the work, and knowing the people of Israel well, Moses asked what he would do if they did not believe him, or questioned that God had appeared to him at all. At that point, God asked, "What is that in your hand?" Moses did not have a diploma from an Egyptian university, a signet ring from Pharaoh's house, or some other impressive possession. All he had was "a rod"–a common shepherd's "rod." Nothing but a dead stick of wood.

You remember what followed. The Lord commanded Moses to throw the rod down, and it became a snake. He then commanded him to take it up by the tail, and it again became a rod. God would use what Moses had in his hand! And, use it He did! Moses lifted that rod toward heaven, and God sent thunder and hail throughout Egypt, with fire running along the ground (9:23).  He stretched it over the land of Egypt, bringing in a great plague of locusts (10:13). He lifted it over the Read Sea, and it parted (14:16). Although something common, when the Lord used that rod, it became famous among the saints of God.

Every child of God must learn from the record of Moses. When God uses us, He will use what is in our hand. He used the sling that was in David's hand (1 Sam 17:50), and the jawbone that was in Samson's hand (Judges 15:15). He used a staff in Benaiah's hand to overcome a mighty Egyptian (2 Sam 23:21), and an ox goad in Shamgar's hand to kill 600 Philistines. Who knows what God is able to do with what is in your hand? What do you have? What is in your hand? Let God use it.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I give You what is in my hand. Grant me grace and power to bring honor to You through it!

-- Monday: SOUND SPIRITUAL THINKING --