What’s in Your Hand?
“What’s in your hand?” That’s what God asked Moses (see Exodus 4:2). God was calling Moses to do the impossible – return to Egypt and lead a couple million people from slavery to freedom. And Moses was trying to get out of it.
Moses was holding his shepherd’s staff. God showed Moses how to do signs and wonders with his staff; specifically, at this point, how to turn it into a snake and back again.
Now I’ve heard teachings about the theology around why it had to be a staff, spiritually what that’s symbolic of, and all that. And that’s all well and good. But I think there’s a simpler reason why God used Moses’ staff.
As a shepherd, it’s what Moses happened to be holding. And God was like, “That’ll do.”
It’s a good thing Moses wasn’t, say, a professional bowler. He’d have been holding a bowling ball and God would’ve turned it into an armadillo or something. It wouldn’t have been nearly as impressive as a big ‘n’ bad snake.
It was as much a sign to Moses that God was with him as to the people God was sending him to. God told Moses the people would believe him (see Exodus 3:18). It was Moses that had the doubts. Moses was the one who took the convincing. Moses was the one God had to sell. Sometimes others believe in our calling more than we do. Sometimes God’s toughest sales job about our calling is to us. And he uses the things he’s already given us that we take for granted.
What makes your heart sing? What does your heart gravitate to? What’s in your hand? God wants to use it to do something extraordinary in your life, for his Kingdom purposes and the benefit of many people.
What’s in your hand? God wants to use what’s common and ordinary to you to accomplish the miraculous calling he has on your life. Are you willing to let God turn it into something? Tell us in the comments. And please share on social media (share buttons are below for your sharing convenience) if this blessed you. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
I love this! Let’s just say I relate to Moses. I’ve carried the Call to Write literally my whole life. It took Moses forty years in the desert to prepare then he still asked for someone else to talk. God is so good and never changes His mind about gifts He placed inside us. I am stepping out and grateful you and Janet were part of my journey.
Mary, I love to see the Lord using people in their gifts and talents! I am so blessed to see writers get their message out – what an impact you can make and change lives!
In this journey, I have so loved connecting with people. The relationships are awesome!
Blessings on your writing and your ministry!
Much love,
Janet
I really enjoyed this weeks lesson. We don’t have much but if we give what we have to God he can perform miracles with it just like the story of the boy with five loaves and two fishes. In God’s hands his small lunch was used to feed 5000.
Thanks for the kind words, Dave. That’s a really good case-in-point. So much of being used by God is just showing up with what we have, and then he does his miracle and makes it enough. He loves doing things in partnership with us. We show up, then he shows up. But we have to show up first.