July 2024
In Exodus 4, we encounter Moses, a man filled with doubts and excuses. God calls him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses feels inadequate and unprepared. He questions his own abilities and asks God, “What if they do not believe me?” God’s response is simple yet profound: “What is that in your hand?” Moses replies, “A staff.” This ordinary shepherd’s staff becomes a powerful symbol of faith and trust when placed in God’s hands.
The story of Moses teaches us an important lesson: God can use the ordinary things in our lives for extraordinary purposes. Moses’ staff, something he relied on for his daily work, became a tool for miracles—parting the Red Sea, bringing water from a rock, and demonstrating God’s power to the people. It wasn’t about the staff itself but about Moses’ willingness to trust God with what he already had.
This theme runs throughout the Bible. When the prophet Elisha met a poor widow in 2 Kings 4, he asked her, “What do you have in your house?” She only had a small jar of oil. Yet, when she trusted God and poured it out, it miraculously multiplied to meet her needs. Similarly, David faced Goliath not with heavy armor but with a sling and five smooth stones, trusting God to deliver him. Even Jesus, when feeding the 5,000, asked the disciples, “What do you have?” They brought Him five loaves and two fish, and He used them to perform a miracle. Most of all you could say God gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin-loaded lives from eternal death. He ‘used’ the cross to do this.
So, what’s in your hand today? God asks us the same question. We might feel like what we have is insignificant—just a small talent, a little time, or a simple act of kindness. But when we offer these things to God, He can transform them and use them for His glory. It’s about surrendering our lives and trusting that God can work through us, even when we feel inadequate.
At International Christian Fellowship Woerden (ICF), we believe that God has given each of us unique gifts and talents. It’s not about having the most impressive resources, but about being willing to use what we have in service to Him. Whether it’s a friendly smile, a listening ear, or a heart for hospitality, or money, God can use these simple acts to make a big impact.
Let’s take a moment to reflect: What do you have in your hand that you need to entrust to God? How can you use your gifts and resources to spread new life in Christ? Remember, you are not less valuable than a wooden staff or a small jar of oil. In God’s hands, your life can be a powerful instrument for His Kingdom.
Let’s encourage one another to discover and develop the gifts God has given us, trusting that He will use them in ways we can’t even imagine.
