What Is In Your Hand?

Written by Dr. Walt Mauldin
Executive Director, Smoky Mountain Children’s Home

At a recent Westmore Sunday morning worship service, Pastor Kelvin Page shared about the time God called Moses, the person who would become known as the leader of a nation. As I thought about this amazing story from Exodus, chapters three and four, reflection soon followed.

The Lord spoke to Moses in a most unusual circumstance…a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames! How was that even possible? Out of curiosity, Moses approached the flame, and then suddenly God called him by name. God obviously knew him.

Moses responded and said, “Here I am.” So, he appeared ready to listen but was not ready for the mission to which God was calling him. God told Moses about the children of Israel’s oppression in the land of Egypt and wanted Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” What an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Moses had no self-confidence and felt like he was not to be the chosen one. In his mind, he was totally unprepared. He did not feel equipped to carry out the special assignment God had in mind. The Lord then assured Moses that He would be with him. What more could Moses have wanted? Yet, he refused to agree to the huge commitment.

Each time God asked Moses to become the leader of the Israelite nation, Moses made up excuse after excuse. Once he asked God, “What if they will not believe me or listen to my voice?” So, the Lord said to him, “What is in your hand?” Moses responded by saying he was holding his shepherd’s staff. God instructed him to cast it on the ground. When he willingly obeyed, it surprisingly turned into a snake. Moses became afraid and ran away. The Lord assured Moses to come back and pick up the snake. Reluctantly, he followed the command, and the snake turned back into his shepherd’s staff.

After God showed Moses that He would, in fact, be with Him as he led Israel, he finally relented and the rest is history. However, it was not until God asked Moses what was in his hand that he began to visualize the leading of God among His people. Proof was put into action. God revealed His power through what Moses had...right in front of him.

Perhaps God is calling you to do something that you feel is beyond your own abilities. Remember, God never calls anyone to do something for which you are totally ready. You may not feel you are prepared. The task may seem to be unsettling and totally overwhelming.

God is asking you, “What is in your hand?” What are the talents and abilities you already have? What resources do you own now? Where has God brought you from to the place where God has you now? Has He not prepared the way for this part of your journey? The answer is unequivocally…yes!

God never calls the qualified; he qualifies the called. So, what is in your hand?

Dr. Walt Mauldin, Executive Director