Originally posted 4/30/20.

Can it be that God reminds us of his abundant power with just one word — one seemingly inconsequential word in the story of Moses, a common everyday shepherd?

That is my experience.

In the narrative of Exodus 3 and 4, Moses is on Mount Horeb tending to the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro. Suddenly this ordinary day turns into something extraordinary. An angel with a message from God appears; there is a burning bush; Moses hears the words holy ground; and when God knows he has Moses’s attention, God affirms his identity to Moses, “I am the God of your father,” (3:6).  Something big is about to happen.

Then the reason for the visit, God speaks to Moses: “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (3:10) Quite the daunting task for a shepherd!

And Moses was daunted … and scared … and feeling mighty insecure. Excuses, questions, and pleas came fast.

Who am I that I should go? (3:11)
If I come to the people of Israel and they challenge me, who do I say you (God) are? (3:13)
They will not believe me or listen to my voice. (4:1)
I am not eloquent. (4:10)
Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. (4:13)

How might you feel if God tasked you with a seemingly impossible job?

I’m identifying with Moses.

I also love God’s meeting Moses where he is and responding to each excuse.

He (God) said, but I will be with you. (3:12)
God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM… This is my name forever. (3:14, 15)
I AM, or Yahweh is also a clear reminder of God’s promises to his people and of his help for them to fulfill their calling. (ESV Study Bible notes)

Then the staff, that essential and common piece of equipment for a shepherd, becomes one of the pictures God uses to communicate to Moses about his they will not believe me excuse.

“Staff,” the word God used to get my attention. I’m listening.

God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground. It turns into a snake and Moses runs. I would too. God’s next instruction is even scarier, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail” (4:4) Moses obeys and the snake becomes a staff once again.

The common tool of a common shepherd communicates God’s power.

After two additional convincing pictures of God’s ability, God challenges Moses’s other excuses.

The I am not eloquent with “Who has made man’s mouth? I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (4:11, 12)
To Please send someone else, God replies, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.” (4:14, 15)

Then God reminds Moses again to take the staff.

That common staff is the very thing God uses to demonstrate his power. A few verses later Moses calls the staff, — the staff of God. (4:20) Moses is beginning to understand what God is communicating about his power to trust an ordinary shepherd for a God-sized role.

It causes me to ponder, can God use ordinary me with a God-sized task?

What has God used to communicate his power to me?
Am I listening or am I making excuses?
Who are my Aarons?
God has not provided a staff for me; but like for Moses he has provided his power and enablement.

What about you? How might you answer the questions God has brought to my attention?

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
II Corinthians 4:7

“May you be strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might,”
Colossians 1:11

Copyright: Sue Tell, May 2023