Mensa Otabil - Step Out In God's Power
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Yesterday, we looked at Moses and how he responded to the call of God. He sought permission from Jethro, and Jethro blessed him. Now we look at the next thing that happens in Exodus 4:19 — 20. Now, the Lord said to Moses in Midian, «Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who sought your life are dead.» Then Moses took his wife and his sons, set them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took the rod of God in his hand. Moses fled Egypt 40 years earlier as a wanted man; he had betrayed the house of Pharaoh, and they were really angry with him. One of the reasons why Moses had stayed outside of Egypt for all these 40 years was because he was afraid of what would happen to him if he went back. He was uncertain of his future and what awaited him.
So the Lord sensed how Moses felt. Moses was ready to go, but he was not sure how he would be received. God knew how Moses felt and guaranteed him safe passage. And how did God do that? The Lord said to Moses, «All the men who sought your life are dead.» These are magnificent words of relief because Moses has probably been having nightmares in his mind. He sees the face of Pharaoh; even after 40 years, he can’t imagine they are no longer there. So in his mind, they are still present.
You know, many times, there are enemies or fears in our minds that are dead, that are not there. But there are things we’ve faced in our past, things that used to harass us, and in our minds, they are still there. We fight them and run away from them, trying so hard to overcome them, but they are no longer there. That’s what God is saying to Moses: the thing you’ve been fighting for all these 40 years in captivity is gone. I’ve taken it away; I’ve solved it. They’re dead, so now you can fulfill your mission.
When Moses heard that the people who were seeking his life were dead, he took his wife and sons and started to go to Egypt. I don’t know what you learn from this, but I believe that for some of you, the battles you’re fighting, and God is telling you, «It’s dead; it’s gone.» The thing you fear is no longer there; it’s out of the way. Just go on and do what God wants you to do.
But I also want you to notice something: when Moses left, he left with the rod of God in his hand, and that’s how the passage puts it -» Moses took the rod of God in his hand.» Earlier, this rod was a rod of Moses; it was a shepherd’s rod; it’s what he ordinarily used to drive the sheep into pasture, to guide them. This was not an extraordinary thing. Of course, God had used it supernaturally, but it still became a shepherd’s rod. When Moses took hold of this rod to go back to Egypt, he recognized he was not going alone; he was going with the power of God.
How do I know? Because God has taken what is ordinary in my hand and transformed it into an extraordinary weapon. That’s an important lesson for us: sometimes, God can take what is ordinary in your hand and do extraordinary things with it. You may look ordinary, but within you rests extraordinary power.
So when Moses set out for Egypt, he knew that even if those who sought him were dead, there was still some Pharaoh there. He knew about the gods of Egypt; he knew about the power they had; he knew about all the things that could confront him. But he also knew that God was with him because He had given him a weapon to use in His name and had given him signs to perform when he went into Egypt.
So if you are a child of God, a spiritual child of God, you may look ordinary on the outside, but residing inside you is the awesome power of God. Don’t ever underestimate the power of God within you. For Moses, the power was in his hand as a stick; for us, the power is in our spirits, in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit. May the power of God go with you wherever you go this day, throughout this week, throughout the year. May you experience the supernatural power of God. Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, lead me in the power of your Holy Spirit. Take what is mine and use it as your own. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»