I need to get me one of those. . . But what would God do if I did?
By Dean Collins
Have you ever noticed someone with some new piece of technology, a new grill, or a new gadget for the kitchen or the office and thought, Wow, that would save me a lot of time. I need to get me one of those! I had that experience recently when visiting someone with a keypad instead of a key lock on the front door. I would never have to find a lost key again. I could give a guest a code instead of a key. It seemed so simple I just had to have one!
What God gave Moses
Reading Exodus 4 this morning gave me that same feeling. Moses was struggling with whether his own people would accept and support his mission as well as whether Pharaoh would agree to the request he was to deliver to this powerful leader. God said, “What’s that in your hand?” Moses was holding a very ordinary staff or walking stick. Nothing particularly marvelous about that technology to envy. But then God told him to throw it on the ground. When Moses did, the staff became a serpent. Moses did exactly what we would do in the same situation. He jumped back in fear and shock.
God then told Moses to do something I know I would hesitate to do, even if it was a voice from Heaven! “Reach out and grab its tail.” I might have just said no or walked away. I have picked up a garden snake. I even one time held an 11-foot python (reluctantly and fearfully) when someone handed it to me. I would not, however, reach down and willingly pick up a snake that was at least as big as a shepherd’s staff! That seems like an unreasonable request. But Moses did it and instantly the snake became a staff again. Yep, I need to get me one of those was my thought!
How I would use it
When would I use this technology? Well, maybe in the same situations Moses was told to use it: when people didn’t believe him or accept his message from the Lord.
What if a department head, professor, coach, or student didn’t think I was speaking God’s truth and hesitated to follow along? Well, I would throw my walking stick on the ground and watch them run until I bravely reached down and picked up the snake and it turned back into a staff. Or maybe I would use it when I was raising money for the university and a prospective donor hesitated or said no. Bam, down goes the staff, and the snake wiggles around, and just as the donor started to run I would pick up the snake. I am guessing I could then pick up their check!
But as you might have figured out already, we often use our technology and influence in unhealthy ways that were never God’s intention. And as Moses would come to find out later, sometimes other people have cool tricks as well and aren't that impressed with what we have to offer. And some people don’t want to respond to God even when it seems obvious that he is speaking. So maybe God knew what he was doing by not offering us the special walking stick Moses was given.
When uncertainty comes
Moses had doubts. He was uncertain that people would follow him or trust that he actually was sent by God to lead the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt. He was both uncertain that he had the ability to lead and that he would have the right words to say. God gave him assurance and also sent his brother Aaron along to assist. He had fears, but he trusted God was with him.
We’ve all had those kinds of moments, haven’t we? Times when we were not sure we had the right stuff for the assignment. Times when we were not comfortable with knowing what to say or getting the sentence out even when we did have the right words. There are times when the task of leadership we have been assigned seems bigger than we are, and we struggle to keep faith that God really gave us the assignment or that he will really go with us to complete it. The best I can tell from scripture, these questions and concerns are a part of being human.
What we need in our tough and uncertain moments is to lean on God. He wants us to be honest and tell him our fears, our hesitancy, and our insecurities. But he also wants us to trust him and to discover that faith is to be used and not simply held as an idea. When we step toward God and the assignment he has given us, in those moments we will meet him and know his strength.
Lord, we confess that sometimes we doubt and sometimes we hesitate because we know our weaknesses. Help us to realize that you know us even better than we know ourselves. Remind us of your presence and of your promises in scripture so that we know you are always with us and have given us your Holy Spirit to guide us, advise us, and strengthen us. Today we choose to step toward the assignment you have given us, knowing that you will give us everything we need if we will simply trust you. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Exodus 4:1-5, 10-17 NLT
Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash
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