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The Impact of a Tiny Gnat

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch our your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'"  And they did so.  Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast:  All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.  The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not.  So there were gnats on man and beast.  Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God."  But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said." - Exodus 8:16-19

God commanded Moses and Aaron to strike the dust so it would become gnats.  They responded to God's command by obeying Him.  But Moses and Aaron were not the ones who turned the dust into gnats, God was.

As the people were being pursued by the Egyptian army and were trapped by the Red Sea, God told Moses to hold his staff over the sea.  Moses obeyed, God parted the sea, and the people crossed safely (Exodus 14:1-25). 

When the people were thirsty, they complained to Moses.  God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff.  Moses obeyed, and God had water flow from the rock (Exodus 17:1-7).

We see the same pattern throughout Moses' life of God working:
- God invites Moses to join Him in His work
- God tells Moses what to do
- Moses obeys
- God accomplishes His purposes
- Moses and those around him come to know God more clearly

God is always extending His invitation.  He gives us instruction.  He is capable of accomplishing His purposes.  And He can make Himself known more clearly.  The critical component of this pattern is our obedience.  When given the opportunity to team up with God, how will we respond?  Not obeying is disobeying.

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