THY ROD AND THY STAFF

Post date: Jun 13, 2012 6:14:58 AM

I am quite convinced that our God has no intent of keeping anyone stagnant or unproductive at any moment in time, but if that is required to get our attention to His direction and admonition in what we are doing, or to get us where He wants us to be, He will not hesitate to use it. Whatever God uses on us, though painful sometimes and unwelcoming, they are for our very best interest now and in the future despite our cries, and we have to take them with that mindset like David confessed he did in Psalms 23:4 “---thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”  

The staff and the rod will never be comfortable at any time of the day, but if they are applied to get us out of imminent danger which locks around the corner to the safety we always deserve, the painful comfort will be preferred. I will rather prefer the rod and the staff, instead of spending the rest of my life walking continuously in the valley of the shadow of death.

This valley of the shadow of death can be likened to the near success syndrome we experience every day. It can also be liken to the “I barely made it through, or, always being the last man in or out, instead of the first man out or in”. The rod is capable of taking us from the wrong places of life, wrong profession, wrong dreams and visions, and wrong projects to the rightful place that we should be through the walking of His love and grace.  

The rod and the staff kept David safe in the bush with his father’s sheep, in the caves while running away from King Saul, and on the run from one place to another till he was able to sit on the throne of his destiny, despite beginning from nothing and instantly facing a formidable army of King Saul. The rod and the staff kept Moses still relevant after forty years of condemnation by Pharaoh because of a crime and aimless wondering in the forest doing unpleasant labor for his master. You will surely make it out safely in this life despite the circumstances. Keep your trust in His ability.

The staff and the rod are never means of punishment from God, but means through which we are corrected, put right with ourselves, with God and with others, kept us safe from falling into unpleasant and daily regrettable mistakes, and they always work in conjunction with the outpoured grace of God. It was the rod and the staff in the life of Paul that kept him from falling into the destructive pride of knowledge and great revelations from God, boasting of his achievement in life and ministry, it also kept him humbled and trusting in the abiding presence of God in all situations. This is what Paul said;

“Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” 2 Corinthians 12:5-10

The rod and staff in the hands of our God is not hash, it is not killing, it is mild and with mercy, it is not in the hands of our enemies, but in the hands of the God who loves us to the point of giving His very best to redeem us from our very worst moment of sin, condemnation and frustration. He will never use the rod or the staff in anger even when we walk in the valley of the shadow of death. His love will keep us till we receive His fullness as we keep moving on.