And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
The exchange took place in Midian, where the Lord asked Moses what was in his hand and Moses answered that it was a rod. The question was given to answer Moses' fear that Israel would not believe him nor listen to his voice and would say the Lord had not appeared to him. God met that fear by giving him evidence that appealed to his own senses, beginning by calling attention to the rod in his hand.
When the time for Israel's deliverance had come, God purposed to accomplish it in a manner to pour contempt on human pride. The deliverer went forth as a humble shepherd with only a rod in his hand, and God made that rod the symbol of His power. The verse introduces the rod that God changes into a serpent as a sign to Moses. That serpent was probably a cobra, the royal symbol on Pharaoh's diadem and a representation of Egypt's royal and divine power.
Its poisonous nature is shown by Moses fleeing from it and by the word used for it, which is associated with hissing. The transformation was more than a portent, for it pledged and represented victory over Egypt's king and gods. That ordinary rod became the means for signs, joined with the hand turning leprous, to convince both Israel and Pharaoh and his people that One mightier than the king of Egypt and greater than Moses was manifest among them. By such signs and wonderful works God would cause Pharaoh and the Egyptians to fear so they would not dare to harm him, yet even after many miracles performed before Pharaoh in the sight of the people they would not let Israel go.
The rod shows that God can do great and wonderful things through a simple, ordinary object when it is devoted to His service. His work is not limited to means people expect, so they should not limit His power. The verse marks God's call for Moses to exchange his shepherd's crook for the rod of authority, to leave his flock of sheep and take leadership of more than a million idolatrous, rebellious people. He had been prepared by shepherd work that taught humility, meekness, faith, trust, and care for the afflicted, sick, straying, unruly, young and old, and that made his life closely linked with heaven so he was ready to depend upon the invisible Leader.
Even as the rod was simply an instrument in his hand, so he himself was to be a willing instrument to be worked by the hand of Jesus Christ. As a shepherd of God's own people he was to be an unobstructed channel through whom the riches of heaven would be poured out. Through his firm faith and abiding trust many blessings and God's blessings reached the children of Israel. The Midian encounter connects asking what is in the hand with asking for a sign from heaven, since God gave signs in response to a request for assurance. It therefore serves as a precedent for Hezekiah asking for a sign that God would fulfill the promise to heal him.
The exchange took place in Midian, where the Lord asked Moses what was in his hand and Moses answered that it was a rod. The question was given to answer Moses' fear that Israel would not believe him nor listen to his voice and would say the Lord had not appeared to him. God met that fear by giving him evidence that appealed to his own senses, beginning by calling attention to the rod in his hand.
When the time for Israel's deliverance had come, God purposed to accomplish it in a manner to pour contempt on human pride. The deliverer went forth as a humble shepherd with only a rod in his hand, and God made that rod the symbol of His power. The verse introduces the rod that God changes into a serpent as a sign to Moses. That serpent was probably a cobra, the royal symbol on Pharaoh's diadem and a representation of Egypt's royal and divine power.
Its poisonous nature is shown by Moses fleeing from it and by the word used for it, which is associated with hissing. The transformation was more than a portent, for it pledged and represented victory over Egypt's king and gods. That ordinary rod became the means for signs, joined with the hand turning leprous, to convince both Israel and Pharaoh and his people that One mightier than the king of Egypt and greater than Moses was manifest among them. By such signs and wonderful works God would cause Pharaoh and the Egyptians to fear so they would not dare to harm him, yet even after many miracles performed before Pharaoh in the sight of the people they would not let Israel go.
The rod shows that God can do great and wonderful things through a simple, ordinary object when it is devoted to His service. His work is not limited to means people expect, so they should not limit His power. The verse marks God's call for Moses to exchange his shepherd's crook for the rod of authority, to leave his flock of sheep and take leadership of more than a million idolatrous, rebellious people. He had been prepared by shepherd work that taught humility, meekness, faith, trust, and care for the afflicted, sick, straying, unruly, young and old, and that made his life closely linked with heaven so he was ready to depend upon the invisible Leader.
Even as the rod was simply an instrument in his hand, so he himself was to be a willing instrument to be worked by the hand of Jesus Christ. As a shepherd of God's own people he was to be an unobstructed channel through whom the riches of heaven would be poured out. Through his firm faith and abiding trust many blessings and God's blessings reached the children of Israel. The Midian encounter connects asking what is in the hand with asking for a sign from heaven, since God gave signs in response to a request for assurance. It therefore serves as a precedent for Hezekiah asking for a sign that God would fulfill the promise to heal him.