Questioning the Lord, Moses protested several times. His fears and excuses so overwhelmed his mind that he dared to question the mighty voice coming from the burning bush. But for every excuse Moses made, God gave a promise.
God was calling Moses to deliver the people of Israel from out of slavery. God had made it clear that Moses was to be the chosen deliverer of a nation, but Moses was filled with doubt and uncertainty.
It came then to the point where Moses worried about whether or not the people would believe that he was sent by God. The scripture records his questioning:
But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. – Exodus 4:1-3 (NLT)
Now, there is much more to this dialogue between God and Moses than we are about to examine. However, I want to just focus in on how the Lord responded to this line of questioning in particular: “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?”
Moses wanted to know how he would proceed with leading the people of Israel.
God responded to Moses’s question with a question of His own.
“What’s in your hand?”
When backed by God’s power, what was in Moses’s hand was enough to complete the divine mandate. When backed by God’s power, what you have, right now, is enough to move forward.
So I ask you, dear reader, “What’s in your hand?”
Don’t wait for the ideal situation to present itself before you step out in obedience toward God. Whatever it is He has called you to do can be accomplished. The next step can be taken. The next task can be completed. You don’t need to wait. Just step out and do what you’re supposed to do right now with what you have in your hand.
It is enough.
Plant that church. Start that ministry. Preach the gospel. Teach the Word. Pray that prayer. Write that song. Begin.
Obey God.
Don’t worry about being promoted, recognized, or celebrated. Don’t fear failure, rejection, or heartache. Just let God empower you right where you are, right now. Obey, and leave the results up to God.
Use what He’s placed in your hand.
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