What is in your hand?

Today: Exodus 4-6

There are some things you hear, see and read that can totally shape or change your life.

For me, one of those pivotal messages came while I was in high school from my pastor, Kevin Gerald. I think the message was titled, "What is in your hand?" (if not, that's how I remember it anyway!).

It was a message based on today's passage. Once again, Moses has several "Why did you pick me, God?" moments (like we discussed yesterday). But here's part of the conversation we'll talk about today:

Moses objected, "They won't trust me.

They won't listen to a word I say.

They're going to say, 'God? Appear to him? Hardly!'"
So God said, "What's that in your hand?"

"A staff."
"Throw it on the ground."

He threw it.

It became a snake; Moses jumped back—fast!
God said to Moses, "Reach out and grab it by the tail."

He reached out and grabbed it—

and he was holding his staff again.

"That's so they will trust that God appeared to you,

the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
God then said, "Put your hand inside your shirt."

He slipped his hand under his shirt, then took it out.

His hand had turned leprous, like snow.
He said, "Put your hand back under your shirt."

He did it, then took it back out—as healthy as before.

I won't even attempt to recreate the message of my pastor or any other great leaders who have taught on this passage. But I'll highlight a few of the things that stood out to me today:

• God asked Moses, "What is in your hand?"
  It's a really simple question...and I wonder if God continually asks it to people throughout the world today. God has a purpose for each life He's created--and He's equipped all of us for that purpose. If you know what your life's purpose is, maybe you should ask yourself the question to determine how you can get started on it. And if you don't know exactly what your purpose is, ask the question anyway--it might help you to figure out what your purpose is.
  
• Moses' staff was in his hand.
  To Moses (a guy used to working with sheep), a staff was a tool that he used everyday. It was ordinary. It was probably something he didn't view as valuable or significant. What are the things like that in your world? Maybe they're not things...but skills you have, something about your background, a hobby...something you've got that you probably don't even notice most of the time?
  
• God gave not one, but two signs for Moses--more than Moses asked for. That says something (pretty cool!) about who God is.
  
• God used what was in Moses' hand...but he also used the hand itself. This makes me think of a few things--sometimes God will use not what have you have, but who you are. I also thought that it could signify that sometimes we're called to put ourselves (literally) on the line...not just our money, skills or intelligence--but our lives, our time, our bodies--to go after what God calls us to.

Tomorrow: Exodus 7-9