Fri.’s Devo - What is in Your Hand?

Read: Exodus 4:1-5:21; Matthew 18:1-20; Psalm 22:19-31; Provers 5:15-21 Moses tried everything he could to get out of his assignment. God was asking him to go back to his past and overcome some fears he had run from. When he asked God what he would do if they didn’t believe him, he asked Moses what he had in his hand. God has given us everything we need. All we have to do is give what we have to the Lord. When Jesus was wanting to feed the multitudes he asked the same question. If God tells us to do something, he can turn what we have into what we need. God gave Moses two signs. One was turning his staff into a snake and back and the other was to turn his hand to leprosy and back. The first was to show them that the authority they were under was really a snake and they needed to get out from under it. The second was to show them that they were covered with sin and needed their soul delivered, not just their bodies. Next, Moses complained about his inability to speak and God already had that covered. Aaron was on his way at that very moment and he was sent to walk with Moses through this ordeal. God was one step ahead of Moses and was not letting Moses win. He was God’s man. Moses took his wife and sons and headed to Egypt with the blessing of Jethro. God spoke to Moses on his way and told Moses how this was going play out and end. Moses would do all his miracles but God would harden Pharaoh’s heart so he won’t let them go. Then he was to tell the Pharaoh that the children of Israel were God’s first born son and God commanded him to let His firstborn son go so he could worship Him. Since he refused, God would kill his first born son. On the way, God had to teach Moses something about the first born son. Moses had not circumcised his first born and God came to kill Moses because of it. Zipporah quickly took the knife and circumcised Gershom and threw the foreskin at Moses’ feet, saving his life. Scholars speculate that Zipporah must have been what was holding Moses back from circumcising his son, but when she had to choose between Moses and her son, she chose Moses and doing what his God required. Moses and Zipporah had to give their first born to the Lord. Moses met Aaron and told him what God had told him and showed him the signs. Together they met with the elders of Israel and showed them the plan. They all went to meet with Pharaoh. Pharaoh was not easily convinced. He told them to get back to work and sent word to make their work even harder. They would have to go and find material themselves to make the bricks and still reach their quotas. The Israelite foremen then went to intercede to Pharaoh for their worker’s sake. Pharaoh refused to hear their complaints. The foremen then turned on Moses and Aaron and told them this was all their fault. This would become a theme in Moses’ journey. He would be blamed for everything. Many want to be leaders but they should read Exodus to prepare. They might want to change their minds. When God calls forth a leader, He gives them trials to toughen their skin and train them to trust God. In Matthew, the disciples were wanting to be leaders in heaven. God brought a little child among them and told them that they must humble themselves like a child to be great in the kingdom. To be a leader, you must first learn to follow. There are those who would lead others to sin and it will not go well for them. Jesus had a word to those who were leaders not to look down on any of the children below them. They have angels in heaven who are always in the presence of God. They might not look important on earth, but they are important in heaven. Jesus gave the perfect formula for anyone who sins against you. Then he said that whatever we forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever we permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. That is a heavy saying. God doesn’t want us to permit wars and murder, and deception here. We were given this earth to steward and exercise authority over it. What we allow matters in eternity. If only two of us agree in prayer it will be done. Lord, may we walk in the authority you have given us and realize that everything we do in this life matters in eternity. May we steward well what you have put in our hand.