WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?
And the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
Exodus 4:2
Let me ask you a question: What are you good at doing? What talent and ability do you possess? Perhaps you are good at singing, or speaking, or teaching, or organizing, or working with your hands, or drawing/painting, or playing sports, or putting together business deals, or playing an instrument. Everyone is good at something. What is that something for you?
MOSES
Do you know what Moses was good at doing? He was good at being a shepherd. He was a shepherd in Midian for 40 years. When God met him at the burning bush and commissioned him to deliver Israel from Pharaoh, Moses felt VERY ill-equipped for the task and argued with God that He had the wrong guy. And God did something strange with Moses. He asked him, "What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2).
In Moses' hand was his shepherd's staff. That staff represented Moses' career, his livelihood, his ABILITY. And God said to him, "Throw it on the ground" (Exodus 4:3).
When Moses threw it on the ground, the staff became a snake. Moses had no idea there was a snake in his staff. Moses was afraid and ran from the snake. Then God told him to pick up the snake by the tail, and the snake became a staff again. No longer was the staff the "rod of Moses," it was now the "rod of God." It was now ready to be used not to lead sheep, but to lead God's people—about two million strong. Moses staff had been transformed, and it was going to be used for great things!
Moses stretched out the "rod of God" and the Red Sea parted (Exodus 14). Moses lifted up the "rod of God" and the Israelites won the battle against Amalek (Exodus 17). A wonderful transformation took place in Moses' ability because he was willing to obey God and "throw it [his staff] on the ground" before the Lord.
THROW IT DOWN
Did you know that what you are naturally good at doing, what you are ABLE to do by your strength, ingenuity and talent is just like Moses' staff? Your "ability" has a snake in it. And until your "ability" is thrown down and yielded to the Lord, it can never be used for His glory.
What is in your hand? Will you throw it down before the Lord? Will you freely and willingly give that ability over to God so He can remove the serpent from it, anoint it, and use it for greater things than you could possibly imagine?
God is asking you to throw it down. What is your answer to Him?
Lord, You have given me an aptitude and an ability for ___________________.
It is what I am good at doing. I want to yield that ability to You. I freely and willingly throw it down before your feet. It is no longer mine; it is Yours. Please take the snake out of it so I can truly serve for Your glory and not for my glory. I look with expectation and excitement for what You are going to do in me and through me, Lord, for You are the God who does "exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). And I claim that abundance in Jesus' name!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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