Tools of the Trade - Final

(Continue Final)

I’ve made such a mess of things! I’m such a failure. I’m nobody now, when I could have been king if I’d stayed in Egypt as Pharaoh’s son. But what am I now, Lord? I’m old and I’m nothing but a poor shepherd with a few dumb sheep, living on the charity of others who are not even my kindred. I guess I’ve really failed, because now You can’t trust me with anything but a few sheep and no more authority than this old wooden rod. I’ve failed to save Your people, and now it’s too late!”

I know how he felt because I was there once, thinking my life was behind me and that I’d never accomplished much for the Lord, that I only had my own little family and my children to show for my whole life’s work, living in the equivalent of a tent by the wayside watching over nothing but one tiny little flock with seemingly nothing but wood in my hands—no gold, no job, no home, no nothing but those little lives that He had given me to guide with His Word.

But one day God spoke and said, “What is that in thy hand?” I said, “Nothing, Lord! Nothing but an old worn-out wooden rod and a few kids.” But again God said, “What is that in thy hand?” And still I questioned, “What do you mean, Lord? You can see what I have in my hands! Nothing but this rod and my little lambs! What can I do with these? They’re nothing! We’re nobody!” But He said, “If you will go in My name and say only that I have sent you, I will do great things which you know not of.” And so He did, according to His promises.

With that old wooden shepherd’s crook in Moses’ hand, through the voice of Aaron, God used Moses as His instrument to free six million Jewish slaves of Egypt, plague the world’s leading power, part the Red Sea, and deliver the Israelite's from their Egyptian bondage through great tribulation into the Promised Land, although Moses himself died on the mountain and never got to see the fulfillment of his dreams in this life.

Never belittle the little things or little ones! So if you’re currently devoting your time to caring for others, or being a parent to your own children or maybe even somebody else’s children, and you’re wondering what you could possibly do with nothing but a Bible and these ones in your hands, think of Moses.—David Brandt Berg

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God will start with what is in your hand even when it seems menial and insignificant. “What is in your hand, Moses?” This was God’s response to Moses’ ample excuses about why he was not qualified to lead Israel out of slavery to Egypt. The wisdom of the statement God spoke to Moses at the burning bush can still speak to us today.

Can you imagine what must have gone through Moses’ mind in that moment? After all, a staff is nothing more than a glorified stick! How was it going to make an impact in Pharaoh’s court? There is nothing extraordinary about a staff. But understand this: the common becomes mighty when God anoints it.

Offer unto God what He has placed in your hand. “What is in your hand” means whatever is in your care or control. This could be money, possessions, influence, talents, abilities, and more. What you withhold and retain in your hand reveals what is in your heart. Child of God, release what you hold. Your Father is waiting to use what He has placed in your hands.

We all have something in our hands. As we release what is in our hands, He releases what is in His! He is ready and willing to anoint what is in your hands.

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. Show me what is in my hand. I am ready to release it to You. I will do whatever You would have me do with my life. I want to make a difference in the world today. Reveal the power of what is in my hand so I can be an answer to the problems that surround me. Anoint what I carry and help me fight with what I already possess. In Jesus’ name, amen.—Lisa Bevere






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