How do you use your staff?

Inanimate objects can be used for good or for ill. A clear example of this truth is found in the biblical account of Moses' life. Upon fleeing Egypt (the first time), Moses took up the profession of a shepherd. As such, he held and rarely parted from the tool of his trade, his staff. With his staff, he wielded power - power to control sheep, fight off predators, and perhaps dissuade would-be thieves. The same staff also provided support to stabilize his feet as he traversed the wilderness or leaned upon it when he shifted his weight for brief respites.

When God called Moses to lead people rather than sheep, He allowed the shepherd to keep his staff, even to utilize his staff as a tool of divine purpose.

With the staff, Moses . . .

• Displayed the glory of God

---

Exodus 7:8-9 (NIV)
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”

• Parted waters
  

Exodus 14:16, 21-22 (NIV)
Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ... Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Moses used his staff as a tool to serve God. Unfortunately, however, he also used it in a far less righteous manner, indeed in an unrighteous way.

Numbers 20:17-11 (NIV)
The LORD said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
So Moses took the staff from the LORD'S presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

Notice God did instruct Moses to use his staff. However, He instructed him to use it as a symbol of God's presence. Moses used it as a tool to vent frustration.
God said, "Take the staff: and "Speak to that rock."
Moses took the staff and "Struck the rock."

Few, if any, of us are shepherds. We do not bear staffs. We do, however, bear tools of our trade. How do you use yours?

• To build up?
  
• To destroy?
• To encourage?
• To harm?

For example, in our day, a commonly used tool of trade is a computer keyboard. With the tap of fingers, great power is wielded. Both great strides and far-reaching hurt result from the same keys. It depends on how we use them.

How do you use your staff?

#ordinarylives