DAILY ENCOUNTER

SOMETHING IN THE HAND

"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod." Exodus 4:1-2

Glory to God! When God calls a man, it is because He has put within that man the ability to do that which he has been called to do. There is always something in us, whether material or immaterial, that God can work with to establish His purpose in our lives and on the earth. The challenge of many people, like Moses, is fear and the excuse of not having what it takes. Moses was looking at what he did not have, while God was drawing his attention to what he already had. Moses thought he needed something extraordinary before he could fulfil an extraordinary assignment, but God simply asked him, “What is that in thine hand?” God was not asking because He did not know what Moses had. He was helping Moses recognise that what was already in his hand was enough to begin the assignment. Moses had a rod. It was an ordinary shepherd’s staff, something he had probably used countless times while tending his father-in-law’s sheep. But when that ordinary rod was surrendered to God, it became a divine instrument. God used it to demonstrate His power before Pharaoh, bring judgement upon Egypt, part the Red Sea, and lead Israel through the wilderness. This teaches us that what appears ordinary in our hands can become extraordinary when placed in God’s hands. Moses was a shepherd of his father-in-law’s sheep, but when God called him, he became a shepherd to an entire nation. The same person who was tending sheep in the wilderness was later standing before Pharaoh and leading millions of people toward the Promised Land. The assignment upgraded the capacity and influence of Moses. 

Likewise, David had a sling and five smooth stones, but God used what was available to him to bring down Goliath. David did not need Saul’s armour to become victorious; he needed to recognise and properly use what God had already placed within his reach. The widow in 2 Kings 4 had only a pot of oil. She considered it insignificant because she was looking at what she lacked. But when that little oil was placed under divine instruction, it became the beginning of a supernatural financial turnaround. The boy in John 6 had five loaves and two fishes. In the hands of the boy, it was only a small lunch. In the hands of Jesus, it became food for thousands. This is why we must stop despising what we have because it appears small. Sometimes, what we call “nothing” is actually the seed of what God wants to accomplish through us. Our knowledge, skills, experience, relationships, ideas, resources, testimony, creativity, voice, education, business, profession, and spiritual gifts can all become instruments in the hands of God. We may not have everything, but we have something. The question is not always, “What are we missing?” Sometimes the more important question is, “What is in our hand?” But God often begins with what is already available. The five loaves did not look sufficient. The widow’s oil did not look sufficient. Moses’ rod did not look powerful. David’s sling did not look impressive. Yet each became significant because God was involved. We must therefore learn to value what God has placed in us. There was something in Moses’ hand that was connected to his next level. Because when what is in our hands is surrendered to God, ordinary things can become extraordinary instruments for divine purposes. Hallelujah!!!

FURTHER STUDY

Zechariah 4:10; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Kings 4:2

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What has God already placed in my hands, lives, or experiences that I may have been overlooking or undervaluing?
2. How can I begin to surrender and faithfully use what I already have for God's purpose?

PRAYERS

Father, open my eyes to recognise what You have placed in my hands. Help me to stop despising little beginnings and give You everything You have entrusted to me. Use my gifts, abilities, resources, and experiences for Your glory and purpose in Jesus's name