What Is That In Your Hand?
When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3-4), he had to work a while to convince him he should take on the job of leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. Moses’ initial response was, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:10)
After Moses verbalized his fear and anxiety, God calmly said to him, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)
“A staff,” Moses replied.
God then told Moses to throw the staff on the ground and it became a snake. He told him he would be able to use this sign to convince Pharaoh to free his people.
Time after time throughout the Bible, God asks his people to serve, to give, to do his work—but he only asks them to use whatever he has already placed in their hands.
Consider these examples:
- Samson had a jawbone of a donkey, and God empowered Samson, using that crude tool, to kill a thousand of his enemies.
- David had a sling and five stones, and the Lord God Almighty used that simple shepherd’s weapon to defeat mighty Goliath, the nine-foot-tall champion of the Philistine army.
- An unnamed boy had five small barley loaves and two small fish, and Jesus used his sack lunch to feed a huge crowd of followers.
What has God put in your hand? Whatever it is, offer it to him, no matter how simple, and he’ll use it to do his work.
God has a world to save. You’re just one person. What difference can you make? I encourage you to do this simple inventory: Count your blessings and see what God has given you. That way, when he asks you, “What’s that in your hand?” you’ll be able to tell him, and then you can let him use that gift, skill, resource, interest, relationship, or opportunity to his glory.
What is that in your hand?