Exodus 4:2-3 "And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. (3) And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it."
We continue our look at Moses this morning. We read this verse last week, but I
want us to think about the mercies of God as He uses the things we have been
given the ability to use. Moses had tried to explain to God that he was
incapable of doing what the Lord was calling him to do. "What is in thine
hand?" Moses was quick to answer because he had used this instrument for
40 years. "What's in your hand? A rod." This morning I saw something
that I've never noticed before. When God asked Moses what was in his hand, He
then told him to "Cast it on the ground." I pray I am not reading
more into this than is intended, but I see something very important in Moses'
casting the rod on the ground.
May I indulge in my thoughts for a moment? God said, "What's in your
hand?" But then He told Moses to let go of it. It seems that God was
telling Moses, "You know what you can do with that rod, but now watch what
I can do with it." When Moses cast it on the ground, the rod became a
serpent and Moses was so fearful that he ran away from it. Then God told Moses,
"Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail." Now, I never intend
to handle a snake, but if I were to have to pick one up, I'm not going to grab
it by the tail. That snake could have flipped around and bit Moses. But it was
God who told Moses to grab it by the tail. Again, God was showing Moses.... "This
is what I can do with that rod and this is how I can protect you." Don't
we all need those types of reminders from time to time. Moses' rod is
mentioned numerous times in the next 40 years and we must be very careful not
to give Moses more credit than he is due. Moses held the rod, but God gave the
power. And I can say that is true of each one of us. We may hold an instrument
of various purposes in our hands, but it will always be God who gives the
power. Paul stressed that point in the book of 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I have
planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Jesus also
brought that great truth to the forefront: "... without me ye can do
nothing." All of our spiritual liberty has our precious Lord as its
source. Thank you, Jesus!
1 Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood.
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.
Refrain:
There is power, power, wonder-working power
in the blood of the Lamb;
there is power, power, wonder-working power
in the precious blood of the Lamb.
2 Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood.
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide.
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Refrain]
4 Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood.
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Refrain]