What does Exodus 4:2 teach about using what we have for God's purposes? Setting the Scene “Then the LORD asked him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied.” (Exodus 4:2) Moses stands barefoot before the burning bush, overwhelmed by God’s call to confront Pharaoh. His answer to that call begins, not with new resources, but with the ordinary shepherd’s staff already in his grasp. The Simple Staff in Moses’ Hand • A common object: a piece of wood used for guiding sheep. • God’s directive: “Throw it on the ground” (v. 3). The staff becomes a snake, then back to a staff—proof that God can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. • Lesson: availability outweighs impressiveness. God asks, “What is that in your hand?” not “What magnificent tool have you acquired?” God’s Principle: Use What’s Already in Your Hand • Readiness matters: God often starts with whatever we’re holding, literally or figuratively—skills, possessions, time, relationships. • Dependence on Him: the power is not in the object but in the One who wields it (Exodus 4:17; cf. Zechariah 4:6). • Pattern throughout Scripture: – Judges 3:31—Shamgar defeats 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. – 2 Kings 4:2—Elisha asks the widow, “What do you have in the house?” Her small jar of oil meets her need. – John 6:9—A boy’s five loaves and two fish feed thousands. – Acts 3:6—Peter offers the lame man what he does have: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” New Testament Echoes • 1 Corinthians 12:4–7—The Spirit distributes gifts “for the common good.” We steward what He has given. • 1 Peter 4:10–11—“Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others… so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” • Colossians 3:23—“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Practical Takeaways for Us Today 1. Inventory: identify the “staff” in your hand—skills, resources, life experiences, spheres of influence. 2. Surrender: place these before God in faith, trusting Him to multiply their impact. 3. Obey promptly: Moses’ staff only became powerful once he followed God’s command to throw it down and pick it up again. 4. Expect transformation: ordinary tools become divine instruments when yielded to God’s purposes. 5. Stay humble: remember it is God’s power, not our proficiency, that accomplishes His work (2 Corinthians 4:7). Encouragement to Act God still asks, “What is that in your hand?” The same Lord who empowered Moses’ staff delights to work through whatever you already possess. Offer it, trust Him, and watch the ordinary become a testimony of His extraordinary grace. |
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