What is that in your hand?

I wake up one morning and hear a small voice ask, “ What is that in your hand?” It sounds familiar. I have read it before but have yet again to give a good thought to know exactly what I have in my hand.

I go back to where it all happened. Moses was pasturing Jethro’s flock when he encountered God’s presence in the burning bush. Many of us are familiar with the story. An ordinary day in an unexpected holy experience with God.

God said he has seen the affliction and the cry of his people from the oppression they receive from their Egyptian taskmasters. He wants to send Moses to the Pharaoh that he may bring them out of Egypt to a broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Moses refused and argued with God that the people will not believe him and that he’s not capable to do such an enormous task.

The Lord said to him “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” God said, “Throw it on the ground, so he threw it on the ground and it became a serpent, and Moses ran form it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”- so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. Exodus 4:2-4

A staff. An ordinary shepherd’s staff. The one that’s used for keeping the flock together making sure no one gets away, no one gets lost its way. The one that’s used to protect against wild animal predators preying on the sheep. The one that’s used as a crutch to rest awhile when the shepherd is weary, when the walk becomes uneasy.

God sees how Moses depended on it in his shepherd work. And God sees it’s use to Moses to lead His people. 

“And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.” v.17

How great God is! He remind us that we have the potential to be used by Him. He sees the staff we carry- our talents, our gifts, our time. The ones that we do not see because it’s so ordinary. 

The ordinary things in life, even menial tasks have purpose for honourable use. Even those we think are made of wood and clay may be be cleansed and set for His holy use. All it takes is a willing heart to obey what God has asked us to do. And the staff we carry, may it be less than what we think it is, will be used in an extraordinary way to carry out a mighty task that the majesty and glory of God may be revealed.

“...And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.”v.20

The mundane becoming extraordinary, the lowly becoming noble so that the power of God may rest on the lives of those who walk in His ways. And to witness the miracle of God to a life called ordinary.