Exodus 4:2-4 - What is that in your hand?

4:2-4

The earlier “this mountain” (Gen 3:12) sign having failed to allay Moses’ doubts, God gives him a more tangible sign. Actually, the “sign” of Gen 3:12 is far more assuring than we appreciate. For it means that God knows that His plan, His plan involving Moses, will work. But for the time being we are looking at the more tangible sign. Moses’ staff turns into a snake. Understandably, Moses is scared of the snake. The Lord then tells him to catch it by the tail with his hand. Ordinarily this would be an incredibly stupid thing to do. However, Moses obeys the Lord. This in itself is quite amazing. As he grabs the snake it once again becomes a staff. This in itself is perhaps a parable. Moses’ task was extremely dangerous. He was going to go to Pharaoh, this was an incredibly dangerous thing to do, his life was at risk. Yet Moses would not be harmed. Sometimes God gives us things to do which in human terms are dangerous, yet as is often said, the safest place to be is in the midst of God’s will. By the way, this does not mean that we will never suffer.