Whose Rod Did They Use?

In Exodus Moses is concerned about who would believe the words that he would speak and what authority would he have. In chapter 4, God tells Moses to throw down his rod and it becomes a serpent. As he picks up the serpent by the tail, it became the rod again, this would be a sign to Pharaoh. It is interesting that in Exodus chapter 7:9,10 God tells Aaron to throw down his rod and when Aaron does so it becomes a snake. Then in verse 12 the scripture says that Aaron’s rod (snake) ate up the magicians’ snakes (rods).  Also in verses 14-17 Moses is told by God to go to the river with the rod that became a snake and to tell Pharaoh that Moses will strike the river with the rod in his hand and the water will be as blood, yet when they are actually at the river it is Aaron who stretches forth his hand over the river with his own rod and the river becomes blood. In Exodus 8:5,6 Aaron is told to extend his hand with his own rod over the water and frogs will come forth.

This can seem a little confusing and some commentaries suggest that this rod which Aaron used was really Moses’ and that Moses was passing it over to Aaron to use on Moses’ behalf.  However that implies that the miraculous power resided in the rod and so a specific rod needed to be used, because God could only work through that one rod which Moses owned.

Perhaps there is a bigger lessen here. Maybe there is a picture of delegation of authority and power.  Moses could delegate his instructions to Aaron and either pass his rod to Aaron or Aaron could use his own rob, in either case it was God who was doing the work. Either through Moses or Aaron or whichever rod was used.

How does this apply to life today?  Jesus delegated His authority to the believers that came after Him.  As He ascends to heaven, He says all authority is given to Me, go in My name (see Matthew 28, Mark 16).  Just as God could work either through the rod of Moses or the rod of Aaron, regardless of which one was holding the rod, so also He could work through each of us. In fact, He wants to work through us. Take a moment to deliberately thank God for wanting to work through you. Anticipate that He will do so.