May 14

“What is that in thine hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

Here was Moses a weak solitary man going down to Egypt, to meet a monarch who had the power of life and death. And all he had with which to deliver the people from bondage was this rod!

Yet see how famous that rod became. God’s servant had but to stretch it out, and the water of the country was turned into blood. He had only to lift up the rod and the waters of the Red Sea separated, so that the people could pass through dry-shod.

He lifted this rod and struck the flinty rock, when the water burst forth, and they drank and were refreshed. That contemptible rod became mighty indeed. But it was not the rod; it was the God of Moses, who condescended to use it.