The Staff of Moses Pt. 2

In Moses’ hand we found the staff of deliverance. A staff wielded powerfully after Moses learned his own valuable lessons from being delivered himself, time and time again, by the Great I AM.

Moses learned, and we would do well to learn along with him, how the staff of deliverance must be held firmly, yet humbly. With purpose, and a willingness to let it go at any time. The authority carried in our hands must remain surrendered to the authority of the One who placed it there. The staff of the Deliverer charges up even more powerfully when laid down in humble piety, gracious submission, and repentant worship.

Moses himself learned how dangerous the staff could become when it was gripped in frustration rather than obedience. At Meribah, he struck the rock when God had told him only to speak to it. The instrument of deliverance was never meant to become an extension of human anger. While the staff may be used as a rod at times for correction, or even protection, it was not created to be wielded in anger, and certainly not on one’s own terms.

The staff belonged to the Lord. The power belonged to the Lord. The glory belonged to the Lord. And the punishment for transgressing such authority with human will cost Moses dearly.

For that great man of God did not even walk into the promised land on his own two feet. By the Grace of God, he saw it far off and remained humble, accepting the gift of a future promised land forever with the Good Shepherd. He laid down his staff one last time. Then he saw glory unspeakable, what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind perceived. When he closed his eyes once and for all, Moses saw what Yahweh has prepared for those who love Him.

Nevertheless, wielding the staff of the Lord on our terms will cost us dearly, too. We must learn to hold it while surrendering our own will to the sovereign will of God.

And as always, the lessons written by Moses in the Bible are recorded for our benefit. Which redirects the pointy end of the staff back to us, and poses the question: What do you have in your hand? Perhaps it appears as ordinary as weathered wood. A gift, a calling, a position, a story, a voice or an opportunity that seems far too small for the need standing before you. You might not sense any staff in your hand whatsoever.

You are in good company. Moses neither felt prepared nor worthy when he received the call. He beheld the presence of Yahweh in a burning bush and heard the Name above all names speaking audibly, right in front of him. And in the presence of God’s greatness, Moses felt terribly inadequate and small. God called him anyway.

He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t lead, he couldn’t do righteous acts alone. Thanks be to God, he would not be alone. Which is precisely the point. We come in empty, and walk out filled. Bring our weakness, we leave healed. Broken vessels, God mends every piece. And it takes a lifetime. And we still stumble on the road to becoming truly humble. But Yahweh gets the glory because jars of clay can be refined by fire.

We enter the furnace of God’s refinement with defects and inadequacies. We come out shaped and purified, and all the more truly if we learn what Moses learned. If we receive glory, point the staff high in worship. If we receive a crown, lay it down quickly in humility. If we receive praise from God or from man, return at once to the mountain, hide in the cleft of the rock, lie lowly and give ourselves fully in submission to the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

The question is not whether the staff we hold is impressive. The question is whether it is surrendered. God does not require a golden sceptre. He asks for whatever is already in your hand. He asks you to cast it down when He says release it, take it up when He says carry it and lift it high when the waters rise around you.

Moses carried the staff, while continually seeking the face of God. That is why the impact from the secret place of the Most High remained, appearing as radiant lightning on the face of Moses. He was holding the staff of deliverance while beholding the glory of the Lord. May we do the same.

May what we hold in our hands never become more important than the one standing before our eyes. May we carry authority without pride and purpose without forgetting the presence of the Good Shepherd. May every staff entrusted to us remain surrendered to His hand.

Hold the staff firmly. Hold the staff humbly. And when the sea stands before you, lift it only at the word of the Lord.

Keep Breathing,
Daniel Kooman