God Thought 5/17/23

'Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses drew back from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail”—so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand— “so that they may believe that the Lord , the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand into his cloak; and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back into your cloak”—so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body— “If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or heed you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” But Moses said to the Lord , “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord ? Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “What of your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” '

Exodus 4:1-17

UpperRoom Devotional
MAY 17, 2023
Everything We Need
Mary Charles (Nairobi City, Kenya)

Moses felt unequipped for the task God placed in front of him. However, in God’s eyes, Moses had what he needed — a rod. With that rod, Moses performed miracles in Egypt and used it to part the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through. That same rod brought Joshua victory in battle. And it made water gush from a rock. What Moses overlooked, God used to shape the course of history.

Today, God is asking the same question of us: “What is in your hand?” It could be a pen, cooking utensil, computer, ball, phone, certificate, diploma, or small plot of land. We should not dismiss what we have, no matter how small or unworthy it may seem. God is ready to use it to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives.

God created us that we may serve. We read in scripture that there is much harvest on God’s farm, but harvesters are few; so God is calling on us. Let us embrace the tools God has given us so that we may be ready and willing to serve. God will transform that which we see as “just a rod” into something great for God’s glory.

TODAY'S PRAYER
God of possibilities, thank you for the gifts you have given us. Teach us to see the value in what we have and to use it to serve you. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God can use the gifts I undervalue to serve others.

PRAYER FOCUS
For a new way To serve God