What is in Thine Hand?

Moses, as a prince of Egypt, had the highest training.  He was heir to the throne, a military leader, a builder of cities.  Yet, he was faithful to the God of what would become Israel.  Somewhere around age 40, because of a mistake of his, he had to flee the riches and power of Egypt and go to the wilderness.  He learned to speak a different language.  He lived the culture of sheep-herding nomads.  As he became an old man, he essentially forgot the way of life in Egypt.  He fully expected to die as an old shepherd in Midian. 

However, God did not forget him.  God was training him by isolation, by having to care for sheep, by having to live a humble life, so that he could fulfill one of the greatest missions in the entire Bible.  When Moses was approximately age 80, God confronted him. 

Ex 3:1-4 – Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” 

Moses, ever faithful to his Creator, responded,  “Here I am.” 

God then instructs Moses: 

Ex 3:5-6, 10 – “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. … 10 I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 

Moses was no longer the confident leader in Egypt.  He began to offer excuses as if God had made a mistake. 

1.   why me?  v. 11 

2.   Who shall I say sent me?  v. 13 

3.   They won’t believe me.  Ex 4:1 

4.   I am not a good speaker.  Ex 4:10 

5.   Send someone else.  Ex 4:13 

It was ridiculous that Moses would resist.  He knew to whom he was talking.  God promised to be with him.  But God ignored all these protestations and asked a simple question, “What is in thine hand?”  God uses what is available.  Moses had a shepherd’s staff.  That was good enough.  It was a humble instrument, but what did it eventually do? 

1.   became serpent 

2.   turned water to blood 

3.   turned dust to lice 

4.   brought hail 

5.   brought locusts 

6.   divided Red Sea 

7.   brought water from a rock 

There is a lesson for us in this story.  One could say that God figuratively calls us to the burning bush.  In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells us, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”  This is as direct a command as was given to Moses.  He promises to be with us exactly as He promised Moses, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (v. 19).  It would be just as ridiculous for us as it was for Moses to resist.  Nevertheless, we, too, offer excuses: 

1.   Why me? 

2.   No one will believe me. 

3.   I am not good with words. 

4.   I can’t afford it financially. 

5.   I have health problems. 

6.   I have other responsibilities. 

But the call remains, “Go and make disciples.”  There are three messages to be proclaimed.  God asks you, “What is in thine hand?”  Enough with excuses.  Use the talents and means God has given you, however meager in your own eyes.  Look to see what you have and offer it in fulfilling the calling.  Everyone has excuses, but everyone also has some humble instrument God can use.