Faith Through a Burning BushSample

Staff or Snake

In the next chapter of Exodus, God and Moses have another round of small ask, big ask. Moses is concerned the Israelites will not listen to him. God sees Moses’ staff and tells him to throw the staff on the ground. There is no reason for Moses not to do this. There is no one around to wonder what Moses is doing; no one around for Moses to be embarrassed by. This seems like a pretty small ask on God’s part. But notice there is no explanation. No “do this so I can show you…” God said to do it, so Moses did it.

When the staff hit the ground, it turned into a snake. This was not a little garter snake. This thing was a BEAST! How do we know? Moses ran from it! Moses was a shepherd; he would have been used to all kinds of wildlife. Daniel tells us, as a shepherd, he killed bears and lions with his bare hands. Shepherds were tough guys and Moses ran!

Then came the big ask. God told Moses to pick up the snake by the tail. Again, this is no tiny snake. Most people get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about snakes. Let alone being asked to grab hold of one that just scared you to the point of running. If you’ve heard this story, you know that as soon as Moses grabbed the snake it turned back into his staff. But God didn’t tell Moses that was going to happen. He just told Moses to grab the snake. And he did. Moses passed the small ask and the large ask.

As an aside, God used the staff Moses had in his hand. God didn’t ask Moses to go find something he didn’t have. Often, we feel we don’t have whatever we need to do what God is asking us to do. But God is excellent at using what we have. What He has already given us. We just have to trust He has provided and do the small and large asks.

Today is another day to determine what is being asked of you by God. Is it a big ask or a little ask? What has He already given you to help accomplish His ask?