In Florence, South Carolina this past weekend as I taught the “Walk thru the Bible otLIVE” event, the Lord’s Spirit impressed upon me an insight into the life and experience of Moses. A reluctant leader, Moses pumped out reasons why he was not a good choice to do a hard thing. Because this man was feeling a lack of credibility and connection, God issued a curious command to him.
“What is that in your hand?” God asks.
“A staff,” Moses replies
And the Lord said, “throw it on the ground.”
Without seeking explanation, Moses obeyed the Lord, let go of his staff, and threw it on the ground. Stunningly, the staff became a serpent. Not surprisingly, Moses ran from it.
Then came another command: “catch it by the tail.”
Think about the trust on Moses’ part that this object of fear – a threatening reptile that could cause fatal harm and which he desperately sought to avoid – would be something that God would command him to move toward. In addition, not just move closer, but to reach out and pick it up! Moses caught the serpent by the tail, picked it up, and it once again became his staff. I’m certain this man never looked at his staff the same again.
The Lord gave him more signs so that he and the people would know that this is the Lord’s doing and not just human ambition. But in his last desperate attempt to not be chosen for the task, Moses offered the excuse that he was not eloquent and was slow of speech. God’s reply was a bit more direct, “Who made your mouth?” Then, “I will be with your mouth.”
The message is clear; the sovereign Designer is not hindered by our limitations. We are simply called to entrust what we have to Him for two reasons. First, what do we have that we have not received from Him? It is His, and He has a purpose for it. Second, He is not like us. He is, rather, absolutely free to do as He wills with what we have received from Him. Furthermore, what we have received from God may seem small and insignificant in our eyes – like a walking stick – but God can make it an instrument of His power whereby He parts the waters of the Red Sea or summons drinking water out of a rock. Now this insignificant “walking stick” becomes a powerful testament to the omnipotent Sovereign. The untrained mouth can do the same.
God is faithful to provide where He guides, and here is an encouraging report: this past weekend, we received contributions toward our building fund totaling $120,000! Praise be to God! Let’s continue to trust Him together!
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