"What is that in your hand?" Ex.4:2a

Updated: Mar 27, 2020
 

When God's dreams are seeded into our hearts, we may think that we don't have what it takes to accomplish the mission, and we might be right.

God creates everything with the word of his mouth, he didn't asked for help creating the heavens and the earth (Job 38-41), He just said “Let there be light,” and there was light' (Gen.1:3). And everything He did in the creation was good, then he created the man... for low-maintenance.

'The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. ' Genesis 2:15 NIV

Leave that thought for a moment and let's go to Moises story. When he was called upon God to lead the people of Israel, he said,

'Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. ' Exodus 4:1-2 NIV

Now you remember all things that Moises did with that staff right?, he turned it into a snake in front of the pharaoh (Ex 7:10), changed the water of the Nile into blood (Ex 7:20), made frogs to come up (Ex 8:5), made dust become gnats (Ex 8:17), made the people of Israel to win the fight with the Amalekites (Ex. 17:9), and the list goes on.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing Moises did with "the staff of God" (Ex.4:20) as he called it, was opening the waters!, right? But if you read Exodus 14:13-31 you will find that Moises was actually freaking out. He first told the people "Don't be afraid. Stand firm..." but then he was crying out to God.

'Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ' Exodus 14:15-16 NIV

Then God explained to him the reason why He allowed the armies of Egypt to go into pursue after them. Then Moises did as God commanded.

'Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. ' Exodus 14:21-22 NIV

But wait a minute... what happened to the staff? This was supposed to do the wonder! Actually not... when God commanded Moises to raise the staff, God said "your staff", it never was the "staff of God" it was always the staff of Moises. And this time God let him use his hand as well, Moises was finally ready to understand that it was never about the staff, but about his trust in Him.

'Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. ' Exodus 14:26-27 NIV 
'And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.' Exodus 14:31 NIV (emphasis added)

Now their hearts could saw the mighty hand of the Lord (not Moises hand). When Moises and Israel people got to the other side, they were finally free...

Everything God do in this world is done by His word, that's all its needed. We just need to listen and obey to him. Is not about our strength or our resources, or how much money do we have. We are meant to be good administrators of the land, the talents and resources He give us, that's part of the job description since Eden. But If God gave you a dream of His heart, what you have in your hand is more than enough to Him, He just need you to put your trust in him.

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