Render the Rod

“The LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.  And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground… And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it… And Moses took THE ROD OF GOD in his hand” (Exodus 4:2-20).  “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2).  “Receive My instruction… Counsel is Mine” (Proverbs 8:10,14).  “Men shall be… lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God… All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… that the man of God may be… furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:2,17). 

Now what is this within my hand

In my possession I have found?

I hear and heed my Lord’s command

And haste to “Cast it on the ground!” 

As long as I shall call it MINE,

It lacks the power God would give! 

But when it’s His, it is DIVINE;

Ah, this then is the way to live! 

When Moses rendered thus his rod

And cast it forth as God had said, 

It then became a sign from God

And thus “the rod of God” instead. 

We are the Lord’s, though it has seemed

At times that we are still our own. 

Have we forgotten we’re redeemed?

Should not we rather make this known?

We’re living in an evil time

Where men despise God’s boundless treasure

Exchanging truth that is sublime

For lies that feed their sinful pleasure. 

The danger also is within,

When we have failed to surrender,

Forgetting that we’re prone to sin

When hearts are hard instead of tender. 

We have the resource of God’s Word

Provided by His inspiration

Equipping us through what we’ve heard

To live a life of consecration!

O Lord, we’re purchased with a price:

You laid Your own life down for us!

You died to be our Sacrifice,

Then rose again victorious. 

Lord, what would we withhold from You?

O may we cast it down in haste! 

For all that we are holding to

Without surrender is a waste!    

We thank You, Lord!  You went so far

To save our souls eternally! 

O may we render all we are

Since by Your truth You made us free! 

Now send us, Lord, that we may tell

The Gospel of Your saving favor,

Assuring souls it shall be well

For those surrendered to the Savior.