What Is That In Thine Hand?

By David J. Stewart
November 2010 | Updated May 2017

Exodus 4:2, “And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”

       I challenge you, whoever you may be, to do a little each day for the Lord Jesus Christ. Please don't make the mistake of burying your talents which God has given to you as did the foolish servant in the Bible (Matthew 25:24-26). Everyone has some talents, resources, abilities, money, time, gifts or something they can give back to God. No one has everything, but we all have something we can DO FOR GOD. What is it that God has given to you? All Moses had was a rod in his hand, but look at all the awesome miracles that God performed through that little rod. That is the only thing Moses had in his hand. What a precious truth for you and me, and all believers. All God needs is what we have, if we'll simply yield it to Him.

God came to Moses on the backside of the barren desert and called Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage and slavery in the land of Egypt. Moses didn't want the job and made all sorts of excuses in an attempt to convince God that He had picked the wrong guy. Moses said he was slow of speech. So God said He would send along Moses' brother, Aaron, to be Moses' spokesman. Moses said the Jews wouldn't listen to him, being a nobody. So God told Moses to tell the people of God that I AM had sent him. Moses told God that he had no skills, abilities, nor talents. So God asked Moses what was in His hand. Exodus 4:2, “And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.” God used that simple stick—a wooden rod—to deliver Israel from cruel bondage in Egypt. God parted the mighty Red Sea and bestowed many amazing miracles and blessings upon God's people through Moses' rod.

Why did God use that simple rod, a mere object, to perform all of Moses' spectacular miracles? God did it that way to teach us that all we have is all God needs, if we'll simply yield it to Him. God doesn't need money. If He desired, the Lord could turn every grain of sand upon the earth into gold coins. The Lord has need of nothing, except the one thing that He doesn't own, our heart. That's why we read in Proverbs 23:26, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” God has given to mankind a freewill. Our wonderful and incredible Savior doesn't force anyone to trust, love and serve Him. We all have a choice.

Most people don't CARE enough to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded in John 5:39, and so they remain ignorant about spiritual matters and God cannot help them. God helps those who do things HIS WAY. Proverb 3:5-7 promises divine guidance only to those who acknowledge God in all their ways, which means searching the Scriptures as Jesus said. How else can we know God's will? Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” If we honor the Lord in all that we do, seeking His opinion through the Scriptures, He promises to direct our paths. And carefully notice that the Bible doesn't say that God will direct us; but rather, OUR PATHS. It may not seem like God is working in our life, and that everything is going wrong; but if we are doing our best to follow Scriptural principals in the decisions we make, God has PROMISED to direct our paths in all that we do.

The Lord knows who is sincere, and who is not. 2nd Corinthians 2:17, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” These shallow pastors and churches today, and the shameful Bob Jones University (BJU) camp, are insincere, corrupting the word of God. BJU attempts to confuse the issue, to deceive people into thinking that it is unscholarly and cultish to think that there can only be one good English Bible (see BJU's statement of faith). But what they avoid telling you, the truth, is that the Alexandrian, Egypt, texts are completely different (and corrupt) than the Textus Receptus from Antioch, Syria. Our beloved 1611 King James Bible, which faithfully uplifts the eternal King Lord Jesus Christ and His deity, was translated from the Textus Receptus Greek. All of the modern Bible revisions have been translated from the corrupted Alexandrian manuscripts, which are of the Devil, attacking Christ's deity.

Interestingly you cannot show me anywhere in the Bible where we are told to SEEK GOD'S WILL. Rather, we are told to understand and perform God's will. Ephesians 5:17: “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Jesus will open our eyes through His Holy Spirit that lives in us (John 14:18; Romans 8:9). Luke 24:45, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” If you walk with the Lord in the Scriptures, then He will open your eyes to understand THE TRUTH. Jesus is THE TRUTH (John 14:6). Jesus' Words are TRUTH and LIFE (John 6:63). The Bible is TRUTH (John 17:17). 2nd Thessalonians 2:10 teaches that we ought to LOVE THE TRUTH. The Bible can be summed up in one word... TRUTH.

We already know what God's will is in the Holy Bible. So many people are seeking God's will in unknown areas of their life, while not CARING about God's revealed will in known areas of their life. In other words, we ought to obey God's revealed will before we seek God's hidden will for our lives. The Way The Apostle Paul Found The Will Of God (new MP3 Bible study by Pastor Jack Hyles).

All that God needs from you is what He has given to you, even if it's nothing more than a rod in your hand. God can do anything and doesn't need our skills or abilities. God wants our trust, obedience and love. So many Christian workers waste all their time administrating, holding business meetings, and getting caught up in some 501C3 State-licensed business, so that they never go soul-winning or DO ANYTHING meaningful for God. There are thousands of charities which help some people, but don't preach the Gospel. Sadly, they help themselves more than anyone. The leaders of nearly every big charity get paid exorbitant 6-digit salaries (which I would make illegal if I had my way. Charities ought not be allowed to pay themselves 10-25 times the average American annual salary).

I feel sorry for the minister who spends 99% of his time at the lumberyard, hardware store, brickyard, the bank, and other businesses to maintain his 501c3 business, while the local community goes straight to Hell fire without ever hearing the Gospel even once from this so-called man of God. Something is wrong with the priorities of most professed Christian believers. Soulwinning ought to be our very TOP PRIORITY!!!

Moses was a simple, meek and good man. He was a sinner, with a hot temper, who made many mistakes, but Moses was sincere and loved the Lord. Moses even murdered a man in a moment of anger. Ah, but our God is a forgiving God. Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” The Lord delighteth in showing mercy. What an awesome God!!! Moses didn't have much, but what he had he yielded to God. My friend, you may feel like the lowest of God's creatures on earth, but God has something special that only you can do for Him. You are very special to God. You may feel like the worst sinner who ever walked this earth, but God has something special that only you can do my friend. Jesus said to whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much (Luke 7:47). Some of the biggest saved sinners do the most for God. The reason why is because they have been forgiven for much, and so they love much. So let me ask you my dear friend... WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND?

Matthew 25:24,26, “Then he which had received the one talent ... went and hid thy talent in the earth ... His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant.”

WHAT IS IN THINE HAND? (You can do something for God; an MP3 sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles)


“When the last helper has fainted, the last cure has failed, faith's last leaf has withered and your last friend has faltered, there is a God in Heaven Who answers prayer Who will care for you and provide for your needs.” ~Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the book, 'EXPLORING PRAYER WITH JACK HYLES,' chapter 50.

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