#41 THE STAFF AND THE HAND 8-27-26

When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses did not immediately respond with confidence. He questioned whether the people would believe him. He felt inadequate for the task before him. Moses looked at his own weakness, but God wanted him to look at His power. So God gave Moses signs that would demonstrate that the Lord Himself had sent him. (Exodus 4:1-9)

The first sign involved something Moses already had in his hand. God asked him, “What is that in your hand?” Moses answered, “A rod.” God told him to cast it on the ground, and when he did, it became a serpent. Then God told Moses to reach out and take it by the tail, and when he did, it became a rod again. (Exodus 4:2-4) What Moses thought was merely a shepherd’s staff became an instrument through which God demonstrated His authority.

There is a lesson here for us. God can take what seems ordinary and use it for extraordinary purposes. Moses did not possess some impressive weapon. He had a staff. But when placed in the hands of God, that staff became a testimony to the power of God. The issue was never the greatness of Moses or the greatness of the staff. The issue was the greatness of the God who used them.

Then God gave Moses another sign. He told him to put his hand inside his garment. When Moses brought it out, his hand was covered with leprosy. Then God told him to put it back inside his garment, and when he brought it out again, it was restored. (Exodus 4:6-7) God was showing Moses that He had authority over the human body, over disease, and over healing.

These signs were not magic tricks. They were divine confirmations. God was assuring Moses that he was not going into Egypt alone. The God who called him would go with him. The God who commanded him would empower him. The God who gave him the assignment would also give him everything necessary to accomplish it.

Sometimes God calls us to move forward before we understand everything that lies ahead. Faith does not mean that we have every answer. Faith means that we trust the One who does. Moses had questions, but God had power. Moses saw his limitations, but God saw what He could accomplish through him.

Perhaps today you are looking at what is in your hand and thinking it is not enough. Perhaps you are looking at yourself and seeing weakness instead of usefulness. Remember Moses. The staff was ordinary, the man was hesitant, and the assignment was impossible by human strength. But God was present.

The power was never in the staff. The power was never in Moses. The power was in God.

When God calls, trust Him. When God commands, obey Him. When God sends, go. You do not have to understand everything God is doing before you take the next step. You simply need to believe that the God who called you is greater than the task He has placed before you.

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Lord, help me to trust Your power when I am conscious of my weakness. Take whatever is in my hand and use it for Your glory. Give me the faith to obey You even when I cannot see the outcome. Help me remember that the strength is not in me, but in You. Amen.

BDD