Watch For Snakes

This powerful message explores the concept of divine mandate through the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh with nothing but a staff. We're challenged to examine whether the obstacles in our lives are snakes meant to harm us or divine attention-getters designed to redirect our path. The central teaching revolves around Exodus 7:8-13, where Moses throws down his staff and it becomes a serpent, only to watch Pharaoh's magicians duplicate the miracle. Yet God's snake swallows theirs, revealing a profound truth: what God mandates cannot be duplicated by human effort alone. We learn that a mandate is not a feeling or preference, but an authoritative command that requires movement and builds momentum even when doors close and hearts remain hardened. The message addresses a critical distinction between church hurt and church pain, reminding us that true hurt comes with the inability to leave a mandate, while pain is temporary discomfort. We're encouraged to find the small victories in our strange encounters, to keep throwing down our staff even when others seem to be doing the same thing, because authenticity speaks for itself over time. This isn't about magic or gifting alone; it's about character, obedience, and the undeniable grace that makes our calling stand out when God backs it.