From: January 27, 2024
“At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death” (Exodus 4:24 ESV).
This strange passage of Scripture is difficult to understand. Apparently, Moses had failed to circumcise his son. This was the mark of the covenant that God had given to Abraham. And Moses seems to have been negligent to keep it, perhaps because his Midianite wife, Zipporah, was against it. So, in this terrifying encounter with God, Zipporah ascertained the offense and performed the circumcision herself. When she had cut away her son’s foreskin with a sharp flint stone, God released Moses and let him go.
This event took place after Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, where God had called him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Moses took his wife and sons and headed to Egypt. At a lodging place on the way, the Scripture says that “the LORD met him and sought to put him to death.”
Just as Jacob had wrestled with God on the eve of his return to the promised land, so Moses had an encounter with God on the eve of his return to Egypt. While Jacob’s encounter left him walking with a limp for the rest of his life, Moses was at risk of dying in his meeting with God. Before Moses could lead the household of God, he needed to get his own house in order.
Surely this is why the apostle Paul taught Timothy that one of the qualifications for elders and deacons was that they “manage their own households well” (1 Tim. 3:4;12). If a man is to lead God’s people, he must begin with his own house.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we understand that when You call us to ministry, You also call us to live holy lives devoted to You. Yet we often fall short and fail to live out at home what we portray in public. Forgive us our hypocrisy. Strengthen us so that our private lives are as our public lives, devoted to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 27, 2023
‘Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”’ (Exodus 4:2 NLT).
When Moses made excuses about his inability to answer God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God asked, “What’s in your hand?” Moses replied dismissively, “A shepherd’s staff.” It was not a sword to fight with, nor a priceless object to barter, but a piece of well-worn wood used in the daily work of a shepherd.
Moses had spent the first 40 years of his life as a prince. He attempted to free his people in his own strength and became a murderer instead. Then, Moses spent the next 40 years hiding in the wilderness, working as a simple shepherd of sheep. God couldn’t use a proud prince, but a humble shepherd might be just the man for the job. God chose a humble shepherd like old Moses to lead His people to freedom. And as it turned out, his last 40 years of shepherding weren’t a waste. God wanted to use the very thing Moses had in his hand.
Are you feeling like Moses today? You don’t feel gifted or capable enough to answer God’s call? What’s that in your hand? Have you considered using it for God? Remember, God doesn’t look at your abilities, but your availability. If you’ll say “yes,” then He is able to use whatever you have in your hand.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, we offer all that we are and all that we have to You. The thing we have in our hands seems small, but in Your hands anything is possible. Take our offering and multiply it to Your kingdom and to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
From: January 27, 2016
When Moses made excuses about his inability to answer God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God asked, “What’s in your hand?” Moses replied dismissively, “A rod” (A shepherd’s staff). It was not a sword to fight with, nor a priceless object to barter, but a piece of well-worn wood used in the daily work of a shepherd. Moses had spent the first 40 years of his life as a prince. He attempted to free his people in his own strength and became a murderer instead. Then, Moses spent the next 40 years hiding in the wilderness, working as a simple shepherd of sheep. God couldn’t use a proud prince, but a humble shepherd might be just the man for the job. God chose a humble shepherd like old Moses to lead His people to freedom. And as it turned out, the last 40 years shepherding weren’t a waste. God wanted to use the very thing Moses had in his hand.
What’s that in your hand? Have you considered using it for God?
From: January 27, 2015
When Moses made excuses about his inability to answer God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God asked, “What’s in your hand?” Moses replied dismissively, “A rod” (A shepherd’s staff). It was not a sword to fight with, nor a priceless object to barter, but a piece of well-worn wood used in the daily work of a shepherd. Moses had spent the first 40 years of his life as a prince. He attempted to free his people in his own strength and became a murderer instead. Then, Moses spent the next 40 years hiding in the wilderness, working as a simple shepherd of sheep. God couldn’t use a proud prince, but a humble shepherd might be just the man for the job. God chose a humble shepherd like old Moses to lead His people to freedom. And as it turned out, the last 40 years shepherding weren’t a waste. God wanted to use the very thing Moses had in his hand.
What’s that in your hand? Have you considered using it for God?
From: January 27, 2014
God rebuked Moses for claiming lack of ability to obey His call. God knew the abilities that He had given Moses. Yet, Moses was afraid. He had already “tried” to free his people 40 years earlier when he murdered the Egyptian for beating his fellow Israelites. Moses, the prince of Egypt, was now a lowly, defeated shepherd working for his father-in-law. The truth was, Moses was making an excuse. He was afraid and didn’t want to obey God’s call. But Moses would learn that whomever God calls, He also enables. Moses would also learn that God cares less about your ability than your “availability.” Make yourself “available” to God. Just show up! And God will give you the ability to obey Him.