Too Much, Not Enough, but Still Valuable

This is the final part in the series, Too Much, Not Enough, but Still Valuable. Go back and read Part 1 or Part 2 if you missed them!

So far, I’ve explored how Peter’s boldness made him seem like “too much” and how Moses doubted his call, claiming he was “not enough”. At the end of Part 2, I mentioned that God did not chide Moses for his doubts and say “you’re right—I picked the wrong guy.” Instead, God responds with a question— “what is that in thine hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

I wonder if Moses looked down at his shepherd’s rod and was confused. His wooden staff was great for herding sheep, but surely God couldn't use that to lead a nation out of the hands of evil. That’s a tall order for a piece of wood.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. —Psalm 20:7

His ways are not our ways. With one swoop of Moses’ rod, God was able to drown Pharaoh’s chariots and horses. God can use whatever you have, however insignificant it may seem. He chooses the simple things to confound the wise. (1 Cor. 1:27-28) God delights in using simple things because it brings Him glory.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. —2 Corinthians 4:7

After God directs Moses’ attention to his humble rod, He commands him to “cast it on the ground.” It wasn’t until Moses surrendered the rod in obedience that God performed the miracle, transforming it into a serpent. Likewise, we must be willing to give God whatever is in our hands and cast it at His feet. We must humbly lay down our gifts, our pride, and our ambitions, recognizing that we have no power in ourselves to make them anything great.

I also noticed what God did not ask of Moses. He didn’t say “what can you put in your hand,” He asks Moses “what is that (already) in thine hand?” Not “what can you get?” but “what have you got?”

How often do we think we can serve better in the future, when we have more time? “Perhaps, in another season of my life, I can serve.” Or, rather than looking at our station in life, we look at what we don’t have yet. “I don’t have enough money to give to missions” —but anyone can pray. In fact, E.M. Bounds wrote that “Money is important, but money without prayer is powerless…” God doesn’t ask for imaginary future resources, He wants your present surrender.

Moses may have overlooked his rod because it felt so ordinary. What do you find in your hands today, sister? What have you dismissed as “not enough”? What abilities have you overlooked because you think it’s “too much”? Ordinary objects may seem trivial, but when surrendered to God’s use, He can perform miracles. That casserole, that prayer, that text message of encouragement could be the very thing God needs from you today.

Take whatever you have and cast it down in surrender. Don’t overlook your abilities, no matter how small and simple they seem. Don’t disqualify yourself as too much or not enough. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s economy. He will use you, if you are willing.

Bounds, E.M. The Essentials of Prayer. Baker Book House, 1979, p. 132

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