Motto

"You will Know the Truth, and the Truth will Set You Free" (John 8:32).

Monday, October 9, 2023

WHERE IS THE STICK OF MOSES?

"”So the LORD asked him, “What are you holding?” “A walking stick”, he answered. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground”. When Moses threw it down, it turned into a snake, and he ran away from it. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach down and pick it up by the tail”. So Moses reached down and caught it, and it became a walking stick again. “Take this walking stick with you; for with it you will perform miracles."” (Exodus 4:2-4, 17)  

The Stick of Moses was a mysterious instrument with which he worked great miracles. But since his death, the whereabouts of his stick is still a mystery. This post reveals the hidden Stick of Moses; and explains how to use it to achieve great things. Follow me: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. (John 8:32)

THE STICK OF MOSES 


1.      Walking Stick

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “walking stick” as a straight rod or stick (as of wood or aluminum) that is used to provide stability in walking or hiking; Collins Dictionary defines “walking stick” as a long wooden stick which a person can lean on while walking; and Wikipedia defines “walking stick” as a device used primarily to aid walking, provide postural stability or support, or to assist in maintaining a good posture.

2.      Support and Burden

What is common and essential about the various definitions of a “walking stick” is its role as a support - for different people, for different purposes, at different places, and at different times. Thus different people use walking sticks for different purposes: the old and the handicapped use it to support their weakness, the visually impaired use it to trace their path, the notables use it to support their status, the athletes use it to support their talents, and fighters use it to support their violence. But whatever is the use of a walking stick, it is at the same time a support and a burden to its carrier; either physically or socially – no matter how light the stick may be. For example, the staff of a king or queen is a symbol of their royalty; it supports their royal dignity, authority and prestige. That is why they are greatly admired, treated with utmost respect, escorted by guards, and venerated by their subjects. But at the same time the same staff weighs on them the heavy burden of their royal responsibility, accountability, publicity and security. That is the meaning of the popular saying: “Uneasy is the head that wears the crown”.

3.      The Stick of Moses

Your stick of Moses is what you carry or hold; that is your support and your burden at the same time. For example your profession, occupation or assignment is both your burden (you have to toil, labor and strain) and your support (you earn your living and gain satisfaction and recognition from it). In the same way are your human talents and spiritual gifts, and are your needs, problems and challenges. That is why it is said: “Necessity is the mother of invention” or “A problem is the origin of a solution”.  And the proof in the world is that all great inventors, achievers and heroes anchored on their necessities, problems, and challenges to do what they did to become great. People like Hellen Keller, Charlie Chaplin, Oprah Whitney, Bill Gates, Jack Ma; and many others are real life testimonies. Now, just imagine how much more you would do, as a Christian – with whom God is pleased. (Romans 8:28; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37)· Thus for believers, the Stick of Moses is replaced by the talents, skills and gifts; as well as the trials, challenges, difficulties and afflictions; that one carries along to witness for Christ in the world (1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 16:4-25; Revelation 5:9-10). As true as it is, that the material walking stick that one carries is both a support and a burden. In the same way the talent or burden that one offers to God to serve God (do his will) is the support or channel that God uses to perform miracles for or through that one.


The secret and the steps for using one’s talent or burden as the “Stick of Moses” are: (i) seek innovative solutions, (ii) think about others, (iii) pray and listen to God, and (iv) do not give up. That was the attitude of Moses, from the time the Israelites escaped from Egypt and until they crossed the Red Sea, and continued their journey to the Promised Land. (Exodus 14:1-31).

5.      Think About Others

The stick of Moses, as an instrument of salvation, was replaced by the Cross of Jesus.  And this is what it means: Jesus, who died on the cross to save the world - from Satan, sin and death (Colossians 2:12-15) - is the same Word (John 1:1, 14) that God spoke for the Stick of Moses to break through the Red Sea and to destroy the Egyptian soldiers, their chariots and drivers; in order to save the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 14:15-31). Before Moses presented his walking stick to God it was his personal support to walk (Exodus 4:2); but when God spoke on and anointed the stick it became an instrument for him to serve God for all the Israelites (Exodus 4:17). In other words, the walking stick turned into an instrument of support for the Israelites and a burden to Moses. When Jesus was given the cross to carry it was his personal burden (John 19:17); but at the moment when he was nailed to death on that cross (John 19:18) it turned into a support for the salvation of the world. And on that support of the cross, Jesus conquered Satan, sin and death (Colossians 2:12-15) to emerge as the king and ruler of the universe (Ephesians 1:21-22).

6.      Listen to God

Pray fervently and listen faithfully to God – when God speaks his Word on your talent or burden it turns into your miracle working stick. As St Paul says about his infirmity:  "Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). And God used Paul, in his physical infirmity, to perform many extraordinary miracles (2 Corinthians 12:12). The secret is this: the Word of God turns believers’ talents and burdens into miracle working sticks. (Exodus 4: 17). But this does not mean that one should deliberately create problems or unreasonably take the responsibilities of others, in order to use them as “Sticks of Moses”. Let it be either your duty or God’s will for you to take the challenge or burden. For example the mission to take the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt was given to Moses by God (Exodus 3:10), and the mission to die for sinners  on the Cross was given to Jesus by God (John 3:16), That is why Jesus, at the beginning of his Passion on the Mount of Olives, asked again and again: “Father, if I must drink this cup of suffering let it be done, according to your will” (Matthew 26:39, 42).

7.      don’t GIVE UP

It is written: “When Moses threw it (his walking stick) down, it turned into a snake, and he ran away from it.” (Exodus 4:3). This scripture means that if you reject, ignore or abandon your duty, obligation or responsibility it would turn, sooner or later, into an open danger for you and for others. Thus, any challenge that one takes up positively, and with courage and prayer becomes a stepping stone to success, breakthrough and uplift in life.  But if one rejects or runs away from it, it becomes a stumbling stone to failure, ruin and fall in life.

8.      BREAKTHROUGH

And God said to Mosses: “Take this walking stick with you; for with it you will perform miracles."” (Exodus 4: 17). The surest way to gain God’s favor for breakthrough is this: do not seek selfish solutions or set egocentric goals, but seek unselfish solutions and set selfless goals that would have positive impacts on other people; especially helping those facing the same challenge as you face. For example, as a young and inexperienced king, Solomon was faced with the challenge of how to rule the Kingdom of Israel. He prayed to God asking for wisdom to rule with justice, and not for power to crush his opponents – and God was so pleased with him that he gave him not only wisdom, but also power, wealth and long life. (1 Kings 3: 1-15). Nelson Mandela, the South African antiapartheid activist, spent twenty seven years in prison because he repeatedly refused to renounce his cause for the freedom of his country in return for his personal freedom. Finally, his selflessness and fortitude led to the fall, in 1990, of the apartheid regime which had oppressed South Africans since 1948.  Mandela was, then, set free with all his folks; and became the first black president of South Africa. He was internationally celebrated, and lived and died as a hero of freedom.


Contact GODMAN AYING  by Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com


Now think about your own challenge (sickness, infirmity, poverty, dullness, or oppression); no longer as a curse or limitation for you, but as a support for you to obtain divine solutions to general or global problems, of which you are just one of the victims. In the same way, also consider your gifts, talents and abilities; no longer as your own merits or personal belongings, but as unmerited privileges for you to make a great name and earn an eternal reward at the service of God and of humanity. Stand firm and submit your talent or burden to God; together with your unselfish goals – then, you will surely receive the reward of King Solomon (1 Kings 3: 10-14) in this modern times. May God bless you, as you read and share; Amen!

 

Author: Godman Aying; Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT MEDIA™

Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com

Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2023) All rights reserved.


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