Empty your Hands
What is that in thine hand?
Have you ever considered what hinders you from doing the work the Lord wants you to do?
Are you hanging on to something that you need to let go of?
Or are you hanging on to “the rod” , which will never be used for God, till you give it to God?
Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”
Moses had been a prince of Egypt, a defender of his brethren, a fugitive, and a shepherd.
But now he was called of God to go and bring out the Israelites from slavery, to take them to the promised land of Canaan.
But how was he going to do this?
The Lord first called him, then showed him one of the means he was to use, to do the work….his shepherd’s rod.
Of course, this rod was not the only means, Moses used to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.
But it was in his hand at the time God called him.
Exodus 4:3-5 “And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared into thee.”
God chose to sanctify the rod for His work: so it was given to Moses for a means of deliverance for the children of Israel.
I remember how often, as a child, a older person would tell me to “empty my hands, so you can pick up that other thing.”
Here, the Lord is telling Moses that it is time to let go of the life he had in Midian, and to do the next work….His work of deliverance.
Now we can not fill our hands with God’s work, if we will not empty them of other things.
Exodus 4:21 “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”
“Which I have put in thine hand.”
Only the things God puts in our hands are for His work.
Sometimes they are for a specific work and then to be laid aside. Sometimes they are for our whole life work.
The means are all at God’s disposal, not ours.
Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.
One of the means we are always to use is His Word. It is always right at hand, and it is for our instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Another means we are to use is grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power.
(We think of grace as a New Testament word…but it was first used when God chose Noah to save those who would believe God, from the flood to come. Genesis 6:8)
Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, Grace unto it.”
(Whatever “mountains” of difficulties are before us; it is God’s grace that can overcome against them.)
Power for what we need in this circumstance. Given by God at the time we need it, as we ask for it. (Hebrews 4:16).
Grace can be strength, courage, words, and /or whatever we need at the time.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
Faith is another means we have. Faith is given to us at new birth; and increased as we follow after Christ in believing obedience. It is to be used: (“I believe, help my unbelief”. Mark 9:23-24).
The means for God’s Work, are God’s.
Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 