October, 1935
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
371
the life o f many a sheep had been saved by that rod as it was used to drive away the foes o f the helpless flock. Yes, it was an instrument that Moses could not very well dispense with as the shepherd o f Jethro’s sheep. But God was calling him now to shepherd His people Israel. Listen as He speaks: “ Cast it on the ground.” Moses did so, and behold, the rod “ became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.” It was a rod fashioned after the will of man for the work of man, but it was not sufficient for the work o f God— in His eyes, it was only a creeping, cursed serpent. That which is born o f the flesh and that which originates in the flesh is flesh. Regardless o f how useful it may be to man, it is absolutely useless to God. How many of God’s servants today make the mistake of trying to use in His service that which is born of the flesh! They attempt to shepherd, to lead, to protect, and to correct God’s sheep with rods made by man, with the result that their work is a failure and the people are remaining in the land o f bondage when God wants them led across the Red Sea. Paul found this out and wrote: “ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,” and, “ My speech and my preaching ,was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom.” A fter Moses had cast down his rod, God told him to pick it up again, even though it was a serpent: “ Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail.” When Moses did so, “ it became a rod in his hand,” but it was no more Moses’ rod for Jethro’s sheep— it was a changed rod. Listen: “ And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” It had now become a rod o f power. Listen again: “ And Moses took the rod o f God in his hand,” for the rod had changed ownership. Even though Moses was permitted to carry it and to do signs with it, it was no longer his rod, but God’s. God does not despise any amount o f training a man may have, nor the amount o f preparation he may have received in institutions of learn ing, if that man, with all that he has and is, be entirely yielded to God to direct and use as He sees best. But apart from God’s sanctification and direction o f human qualifica tions, they afe useless for service, as He Himself said: “ Apart from me ye can do nothing.” Moses’ rod in Moses’ hand was not sufficient for God’s service; it could do noth ing. But God’s rod in Moses’ hand could do signs and won ders, bringing deliverance and victory to God’s people (Ex. 17:9). God has made a like provision for His present-day ser vants, that they may lead His people and make a way for them through the Red Sea. Let Him speak to us o f that provision, so that we may be prepared for the impossible things we are called upon to do for His glory. In John 16:7-14, He says: “ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto y ou ; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove . . . he will guide . . . he shall not speak of himself . . . he shall glorify me.” In Acts 1 : 8 , we read: “ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon y ou : and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” In 2 Timothy 1 :7, we are told that “ God hath not given us the spirit o f fea r; but of, power.” The servant o f God needs to be empowered by the Spirit o f God in order to do aright the service of God. Note what is said o f the Son of God, in Acts 10 :38: “ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” Also the Apostle Paul says o f him s e lf: “ My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words o f man’s wisdom, but in demonstration o f the Spirit
and o f power” (1 Cor. 2 :4 ). Can the Christian worker today do effective work with less than that which the Son o f God and the apostle o f God received? No, he must be empowered as well as filled with the Holy Ghost. But no one finds the Holy Spirit as God’s rod o f power until he casts down all his self-made rods, regarding them as ser pents as far as God’s service is concerned. Then, and only then, will God empower; then all that the man has, God will use as He sees best. A C leansed H and The second command that Moses was given in order to divide the sea w as: “ Stretch out thine hand.” Again let us turn back to Exodus 4 to see what God would teach us, His servants. After God gave Moses the rod of power, He dealt with the hand that was to use that rod. “ Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom : and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow” (v. 6 ). Moses’ rod a serpent, Moses’ hand leprous— what a condemnation o f that which is merely human! Such a combination can never do God’s work successfully. Such a person may speak and say, “ Go forward,” but he can never divide the sea for the people to proceed on dry land. The rod must be changed and the hand must be cleansed before either can be used by God. Empowering for service must be preceded by cleansing for service, even as all the vessels of the temple service and the bells for praise must have “ holiness unto the Lord” written upon them. As in the empowering, so in the cleansing— the One who de mands it also supplies it. Listen to Him speak to Moses: “ Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out o f his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh” (v. 7 ). At last both the rod and the hand in which the rod was to be used were ready for service. Thus also for us has the Lord supplied: “ But o f him are ye in Christ Jesus, who o f God is made unto us . . . sanctification” (1 Cor. 1 :30). “ Sanctify
A group of African girls in the district in which Mr. Marsh ministers. At conference time, they are seen bringing food to the mission station.
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