What is in Your hand?
Being a part of a leadership team in ministry you hear these kinds of statements quite often: "I wish I could do what they do!", "If I could just sing like that, I could make a difference!", or "If I had the platform they have, I could do big things for God!"
While it is okay to admire someone else's spiritual gift it is not okay to do that at the expense of overlooking your own spiritual gift. You may think, "I don't have anything that's impressive that I can use for God". Well I want to tell you about a character in the Bible that didn't have anything but God used him in powerful ways.
In a time of slavery for the Israelite's, God decided it was time to send a deliverer. So He called Moses to him and gave him a mission to go to Pharaoh and set His people free. This conversation went like this:
Exodus 3:9-11
9 I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now I am sending you to the king of Egypt so that you can lead my people out of his country.”
11 But Moses said to God, “I am nobody. How can I go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Moses doubted his ability and his gifting to do what the Lord had called him to do. It made him hesitant to the point that he was fearful. Moses began to make excuses and honestly they are the same excuses that I myself have made before when called to do something I don't feel qualified for.
Exodus 4:1
But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”
What if no one listens to me? I'm not a good speaker like those other people. Why would you use me!? These questions are questions that we all ask ourselves sometimes when God places a huge responsibility before us. But I believe the next part of this conversation is so profound and brings so much hope to us all:
Exodus 4:2-3
2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.
3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.
A stick.. The only thing that Moses had was a stick. He didn't have any extravagant skills or items on him. He had a stick. This stick that Moses had represents our spiritual gifts and abilities. You don't have to have anything fancy. You don't have to have more than anyone else. What does God teach us to do in this situation?
1. Identify what is in your hand!
What is your gifting? Even if it seems insignificant!
God took a stick and turned it into a snake. A fearsome weapon that Moses could use later. If you look further into scripture Moses uses that Stick more than once:
Exodus 14:16
"Lift up you walking STICK and hold it out over the sea. The water will divide, and the Israelites will be able to walk through the sea on dry ground."
Numbers 20:8
“You and Aaron must take the STAFF and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”
You see Moses understood something important. The power wasn't in the stick, or in his hand, the power came from the almighty God that he served! It is the same way with you and me. The power doesn't come from us, or our gifting, it comes from God!
2. Throw it on the Ground!
Surrender whatever you have to God and watch Him work miracles with it!
When you surrender what you have, it gives God control to show up and use it in a powerful way! Leave it at His feet and let Him have His way in you!
You may think that what you do isn't as important as other, but God wants to use ALL of His children to impact people. Use what He gave you by surrendering it to Him! And watch as He uses you to make a difference like you could never had believed!
Moses only had a stick, but he surrendered it to God and He used it to deliver Israel from her enemies! What is in your hand?
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Thank you for Reading!! Ethan Corbett
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