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God?셲 Staff

Exodus 4:2-4, 17-20, NIV
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."
Moses Returns to Egypt
18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well."
19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead."
20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

In his young age, Moses attempted to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but he failed, ran away, and spent 40 years tending sheep in the desert. When Moses lost all hope and was powerless, God appeared, called him, and asked, "What do you have in your hand?" Moses had a staff in his hand that he had used for tending sheep for forty years.

1. Our life is like a dry staff (v.2).
Moses was thoroughly broken in the desert for forty years. He had grown up as a prince in the palace, and when he was young, he tried to save Israel with his own strength rather than by relying on God. However, when he relied on his own strength, he was faced with failure and despair. While Moses tended sheep in the desert for forty years, he realized that he was nothing. Then God came and asked him, "What do you have in your hand?" and he answered, "I have a staff. I have only a dry staff." That means, "I have nothing. I am not worthy of anything." Our life is like a dry staff. Yet, when we believe in Jesus, our life is changed. Just when we think our life is over because of trouble and hardship and we cannot do anything about it, this is the time that God begins to work for us.

2. The duality of man (vv.3-4).
When Moses threw his staff, it turned into a snake, and when he picked it up, it turned back into a staff again. Human beings have duality like this. All people have an evil nature like a snake, and yet at the same time, they have a helpful nature like a staff. Humanity away from God is like a snake that is wise in doing evil and harming others. However, when they are held in God's hand, they are used in helping others, like a staff. All people in this world have duality. They have both good and evil coexisting within. I pray that you will be held in the hand of the Lord and be used preciously by Him.

3. God?셲 staff (vv.17-20).
When we are completely obedient to the Lord, He transforms us and uses us marvelously. When Moses obeyed God and entered Egypt, he held God's staff in his hand (Ex 4:20). The same staff has become that of God. Even when an ordinary staff is held by the Lord, it becomes God's staff. A useless, dry staff is turned into a powerful staff. With such a staff, Moses divided the Red Sea, struck a rock and made water come out of it, and when he raised up his hands with the staff during the battle against the Amalekites, a marvelous miracle was performed. When God is with us, our life?봪ike a dry staff?봧s changed. When the cross for execution was held in God's hand, it became the Cross of power, resurrection, and salvation. So, even in weakness, when we hold onto the Cross and depend on God, His miracle is performed (Gal 2:20).

How can we remain in the power of God during our lifetime? It can be done by giving thanks (Ps 136:1; Col 4:2). Look to Jesus on the Cross, and always live a thankful life. God uses those who have thankful hearts.