And the LORD asked him,This phrase highlights a direct communication between God and Moses, emphasizing the personal nature of God's relationship with His chosen leaders. In the context of Exodus, God is preparing Moses for his mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This question is not for God's information but to prompt Moses to recognize what he already possesses. It reflects God's method of using what is already available to accomplish His purposes, a theme seen throughout Scripture, such as in the feeding of the 5,000 with loaves and fishes (
John 6:9).
“What is that in your hand?”
The question draws attention to the ordinary object Moses is holding, a shepherd's staff. This staff symbolizes Moses' identity and occupation as a shepherd, a common profession in the ancient Near East. Shepherds were often seen as humble and lowly, yet God frequently uses the humble to achieve His plans, as seen with David, the shepherd who became king (1 Samuel 16:11-13). The staff will become a tool for God's power, foreshadowing how God can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
“A staff,” he replied.
Moses' response is straightforward, indicating the simplicity of the object. The staff, a tool of his trade, represents authority and support, common in the life of a shepherd. In biblical symbolism, the staff can represent guidance and protection, as seen inPsalm 23:4, "Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." This staff will later become a symbol of God's power when it is used to perform miracles, such as turning into a serpent (Exodus 4:3) and parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16). The staff's transformation into a tool of divine power prefigures the way Christ uses ordinary elements, like bread and wine, to convey His grace.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MosesThe central figure in this passage, Moses is called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. At this point, he is hesitant and unsure of his ability to fulfill God's command.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)God is speaking directly to Moses, preparing him for the mission to free the Israelites. This interaction is part of a larger dialogue where God reassures Moses of His presence and power.
3.
The StaffA simple shepherd's tool that Moses carries, which God will use to perform miracles. It symbolizes God's power working through ordinary means.
4.
MidianThe region where Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro, when God calls him. It represents a place of preparation and encounter with God.
5.
The Burning BushAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the context of this conversation. The burning bush is a miraculous sign of God's presence and holiness.
Teaching Points
God Uses What We HaveGod often uses the ordinary things in our lives to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. We should not underestimate the potential of what we have in our hands.
Trust in God's PowerLike Moses, we may feel inadequate, but God equips and empowers us for the tasks He calls us to. Our confidence should be in His ability, not our own.
Obedience Leads to MiraclesMoses' willingness to use his staff as God directed led to miraculous events. Our obedience can open the door for God to work powerfully in our lives.
Preparation in the WildernessMoses' time in Midian was a period of preparation. God often uses seasons of waiting and obscurity to prepare us for future service.
God's Presence in Our CallingThe burning bush reminds us that God is with us in our calling. His presence is our assurance and strength.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 4:2?
2.How does God's use of Moses' staff demonstrate His power in Exodus 4:2?
3.What does Exodus 4:2 teach about using what we have for God's purposes?
4.How can we identify our "staff" that God wants to use today?
5.In what ways does Exodus 4:2 connect to God's provision in other Scriptures?
6.How can we apply the lesson of Exodus 4:2 in our daily lives?
7.How does Exodus 4:2 demonstrate God's power through ordinary objects?
8.Why did God choose a staff to perform miracles in Exodus 4:2?
9.What is the significance of God asking Moses, "What is that in your hand?"
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 4?
11.What were the Ten Plagues of Egypt in the Bible?
12.How can the symbolic breaking of the staffs “Favor” and “Union” in Zechariah 11:10 and 14 be reconciled with any known historical or cultural practices?
13.How do the signs given to Saul in 1 Samuel 10:2–7 align or conflict with other biblical accounts of miraculous signs?
14.(Jeremiah 13:12–14) Why would an all-knowing God need a metaphor of wine jars to illustrate judgment if He already understands human nature?What Does Exodus 4:2 Mean
And the LORD asked himThe conversation is already underway—God has appeared in the burning bush and commissioned Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:4–4:1). Now, “the LORD asked him,” showing a personal God who speaks, listens, and enters dialogue with His servants (Jeremiah 1:7–9;Acts 9:4–6). The question initiates action, demonstrating that God involves ordinary people in His extraordinary plans.
Key implications:
• Divine initiative: God starts the conversation and directs the mission, just as He did with Isaiah (“Whom shall I send?”Isaiah 6:8).
• Personal engagement: The Lord’s question invites participation rather than mere observation.
• Assurance of presence: By addressing Moses directly, God reaffirms His earlier promise, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12).
What is that in your hand?The Lord zeroes in on Moses’ everyday object. Shepherds routinely carried staffs; for forty years in Midian, this tool was as common to Moses as a hammer to a carpenter. God highlights what Moses already possesses, echoing similar moments when He uses what people have at hand:
• Elisha to the widow—“Tell me, what do you have in the house?” (2 Kings 4:2).
• Jesus regarding the boy’s lunch—“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish” (John 6:9).
• David selecting five stones for his sling (1 Samuel 17:40).
• Shamgar wielding an oxgoad (Judges 3:31).
Lessons drawn:
– God often starts with the familiar, not the spectacular.
– He invites us to recognize resources already given to us.
– Availability outweighs impressiveness; God’s power rests on surrendered tools.
A staff, he repliedMoses’ answer sounds insignificant, yet that very staff will:
• Become a serpent and back again (Exodus 4:3–4).
• Turn the Nile to blood (Exodus 7:17–20).
• Part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16).
• Bring water from the rock (Exodus 17:5–6).
• Stand as the “rod of God” in battle against Amalek (Exodus 17:9–13).
Symbolism and application:
– Shepherd’s authority: A staff guides, rescues, and corrects sheep (Psalm 23:4). God transforms the shepherd’s rod into a symbol of divine authority.
– Proof of calling: The staff becomes the tangible sign God promised inExodus 4:17, “Take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
– Ongoing dependence: Even after miracles, Moses must keep holding the staff in obedience, reminding him that power flows from God, not the object (Numbers 20:11–12).
summaryExodus 4:2 shows God initiating a personal, practical dialogue with Moses. By asking about the staff, the Lord directs attention to what Moses already holds, revealing a principle seen throughout Scripture: God takes ordinary people and ordinary things, fills them with His power, and accomplishes extraordinary purposes. The staff teaches that when we place whatever is “in our hand” at His disposal, He turns simple tools into instruments of deliverance and testimony to His glory.
(2)
A rod.--Most commentators regard the "rod" of Moses as his shepherd's crook, and this is certainly possible; but the etymology of the word employed seems rather to point to an ordinary staff, or walking-stick. Egyptians of rank usually carried long
batons;and one suggestion is, that the rod of Moses was "that which he had been accustomed to carry as the son of Pharaoh's daughter." But even if this was still in his possession after forty years of exile, he is not likely to have taken it with him when he went a-shepherding. Probably the "rod" was a common staff, such as a shepherd of eighty years old might need for a support.
Verse 2. -
A rod. Or "a staff." Some suppose the ordinary shepherd's staff, or crook, to be meant; but it is objected that this would have been an unfit object to have brought into the presence of Pharaoh (Kalisch), being unsuitable for a court, and emblematic of an occupation which the Egyptians loathed (
Genesis 46:34); and the suggestion is therefore made, that it was the
baton or long stick commonly carried by Egyptians of good position and especially by persons in authority. But Moses in Midian, forty years after he quitted Egypt, is not likely to have possessed such an article; nor, if he had possessed it, would he have taken it with him when shepherding. Probably a simple staff, the natural support of a man of advanced years, is meant.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And the LORDיְהוָ֖ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelaskedוַיֹּ֧אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, sayhim,אֵלָ֛יו(’ê·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to“What is thatזֶּ֣ה(zeh)Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatin your hand?”בְיָדֶ֑ךָ(ḇə·yā·ḏe·ḵā)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027:A hand“A staff,”מַטֶּֽה׃(maṭ·ṭeh)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4294:A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribehe replied.וַיֹּ֖אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say
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OT Law: Exodus 4:2 Yahweh said to him What is that (Exo. Ex) 
