Moses’ Staff.

The oldest Psalm

In the oldest dated Psalm, Moses reflected on the finiteness of humanity and observed that we are on the earth for seventy, maybe eighty years. We live fleeting lives (Psalm 90:10).

Moses was an old man

Moses was an old man when he stood before the burning bush and began his work as the leader of God’s people (Exodus 4). He was eighty years old when he stood before Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:7).

His call combined the sensational and the ordinary. God spoke to him from a bush that was on fire but wasn’t consumed. God asked him what was in his hand. He was holding something very ordinary, a shepherd’s staff. He obeyed God’s command and threw it on the ground and it became a snake. He ran from the snake but obeyed God and grabbed it by the tail and it became a staff again. He grabbed it by the tail. It would have been safer and wiser to grab it by the neck.

Moses’ staff was ordinary but powerful

He obeyed God and his ordinary staff was returned to him as a powerful sign.

This was the staff that was wielded against Pharaoh during the plagues. It parted the sea when the Jews escaped from Egypt and closed it and destroyed Pharaoh’s prized troops (Exodus 14).

It was used to provide water in the desert and held aloft during the defeat of the Amalekites (Exodus 17). It was also in Moses’ hand when he beat the rock. He claimed divine power, and was disqualified from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20).

Our gifts are powerful

This staff is similar to the gifts God uses in any age. Often we and our gifts are quite ordinary. They are empowered by God. They can be used in God’s power for His service. They can also be used is our own power and in disobedience.

This is a temptation that we all face.