(Read Exodus 4:1-8)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at the life of Moses. We have spent the last couple of weeks looking at the conversation the Lord had with Moses at the burning bush. We pick up the story there as Moses seeks to digest all the Lord promised to do through him. You would think that after the Lord went through so much detail, clearly outlining what He was going to do through him, that Moses would be ready to accept the assignment. But Moses was simply not ready. Instead of saying, “Yes!”, instead of saying, “Here I am, Lord. Let’s go set your people free!” Moses said, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” While this seems like a let down, let me tell you that a response like this is more common than not in the Body of Christ. It often takes some reassuring, on the Lord’s part, to get people to cooperate with the great things He wants to accomplish in, with, and through their lives.
The Lord was not impatient with Moses. Moses’ questioning did not disqualify him from the assignment. In an attempt to get Moses to expand his capacity to believe, the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” Before we go any further, let’s notice a couple of things. First, when attempting to reassure Moses, the Lord used something he already had – the staff. Why? Because the Lord is never going to expect you to do something that you are not ALREADY equipped to do. Moses already had the staff, so the Lord wanted him to use it. The staff would be used several times, by Moses, as a tool to usher in the supernatural. Second, Moses ran from the snake. The fact that Moses, a seasoned shepherd, would run from the snake tells me that it was a dangerous snake; most likely a poisonous one. This was not a baby, harmless snake. And when dealing with a dangerous snake, grabbing it by it’s tail is a hazardous act. Moses had to trust God enough to do what He said. Sure enough, Moses trusted God, he grabbed the snake by the tail, and as soon as he did it became a staff again. The Lord then gave Moses one more sign. He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” Moses did as the Lord instructed. When he pulled his hand out it was leprous, white as snow. “Now put it back into your cloak,” the Lord said. Moses did so, and when he pulled it out it his hand was restored.
The Lord went on to say, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.” It is clear that the Lord was committed for the long haul. No matter what it took to get Pharaoh to release His people, He was committed to backing Moses the entire way. This was a no-fail mission and with the Lord’s help Moses could not fail.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. It’s not uncommon to question how God is going to use you to perform the supernatural.
2. The Lord will never send you out on a mission you are not already prepared to succeed in.
3. Sometimes you underestimate how prepared you are to do what God has called you to do.
4. If the Lord tells you to do it, then He will see you through it.
5. If you run up against opposition while you are doing what the Lord has told you do, don’t worry, He already knew the opposition would come and He made plans to overcome it.
Closing Confession: Father, I want to accomplish all You have destined me to accomplish while I am in the land of the living. You have great plans for me and I thank You for having the patience to work with me in order to see those plans become a reality. I know I am not always ready when You are ready, but I thank You for helping me to get ready. I now realize that I am more prepared than I sometimes think I am. You will never send me out on a mission that I am not prepared to succeed in. So, I enter into this day in faith, believing that I am ready to overcome every challenge that may come my way. You are committed to see me through whatever You send me to. So I enter this day with confidence, not just in myself and my abilities, but in You and Your faithfulness! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
