fore our
slaves gained their deliverance.

Here was a weak and solitary man going down to Egypt, to meet a
monarch who had the power of life and death. And all he had with which
to deliver the people from bondage was this rod! Yet see how famous
that rod became. When Moses wanted to bring up the plagues on the
people he had only to stretch out his rod, and they covered the land.
He had but to stretch it out, and the water of the country was turned
into blood. Then when the people came to the Red Sea and they wanted
to go across, he had only to lift up the rod and the waters separated,
so that the people could pass through dry-shod. When they were in the
desert and wanted water to drink, again he lifted this rod and struck
the flinty rock, when the water burst forth, and they drank and were
refreshed. That contemptible rod became mighty indeed. But it was not
the rod; it was the God of Moses, who condescended to use it.

Let us learn a lesson from this history. We are required to use what
we have, not what we have not. Whatever gifts or talents you have,
take and lay them at the Master's feet. Moses took what he had; and we
see how much he accomplished. If we are ready to say: "Here am I,
ready and willing to be used," the Lord will use us; He will link His
mighty power with our weakness, and we shall be able to do great
things for Him.

Look again, and see Joshua as he goes up to the walls of Jericho. If
you had asked what they had with which to bring down the walls of that
city, all you would have seen would have been a few rams' horns. They
must have looked very mean and contemptible in the eyes of the men of
Jericho. Perhaps the city contained some men who were giants; as they
looked over the walls and saw the Israelites marching around the city
blowing these horns, they must have appeared very insignificant. But
God can use the base things, the despised things. However contemptible
an instrument a ram's horn may have appeared in the sight of man, the
people went on blowing them as they were commanded; and at the
appointed time down came the walls, and the city was taken. The
Israelites had no battering rams; no great armor or mighty weapons of
any kind. They simply took what they had, and God used it to do the
work.

Look at Samson going out to meet a thousand Philistines. What has he
with him? Only the jawbone of an ass! If God could use that, surely He
can use us, can he not? Do you tell me He cannot use this