In light of all his doubts and fears concerning the unbelief of Israel and of his own inabilities, God calls to the attention of his servant the rod he held in his hand. The rod he held is the rod of God and is a symbol of the power and authority of God given to his preacher. But, this rod has a story behind it. To illustrate to Moses, who would then in turn demonstrate it to the powers that be, God told him to cast the rod on the ground. When he did it became a serpent. Then God instructed him to pick it up by the tail. When he did the rod was restored again in his hand. The message of the rod is very clear. The rod which Moses held was a restored rod.
This rod was first held in the hand of Adam who in anger and rebellion threw it on the ground. The rod cast away then took to itself the form of a serpent. It is by this rod that was cast down, and the consequences of it, that Satan’s power rules over men. “The strength of sin is the law” (that is broken and misunderstood law) Men are held in their sins by the righteous judgment of God upon Adam and passed upon all his posterity. (Romans 5: 12-21 Leaving him in his state of sin, the sinner is deceived by Satan into thinking he is righteous by something he can do which continually adds and aggravates his condition before God.
But, in Christ, the rod is restored. He takes the rod in his hand and all its consequences and by his obedience and sacrifice restores it to its former glory. Moses being also a type of every ambassador of Christ is told to take up the rod in its evil form by the tail. This staff now appeared as a huge cobra on the ground. To pick it up by the tail was an act of faith not of human reasoning. Only Christ could deal with the old serpents head. But having his invisible hand on his head we may, by faith, deal with his authority as we are commended of God.
It is the restored rod that God had put into the hands of Moses. By the authority of Christ’s eternal throne and the rod he has given to us, Israel shall be led all the way to Cannan’s shore. By this rod an impossible sea is divided, water is brought forth out of a smitten rock and held high in the air brings a sure victory over all their enemies. Let all of us doubters consider what God has put into our hands. It is the rod of Christ our King exalted in the heavens having all power in heaven and earth. By virtue of his suffering and death God has given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 9-11)
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