With Staff in Hand

"And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord."—Exodus 12:11-12

Michael Costelli

When Jehovah God freed the Israelites from Pharaoh’s heavy-handed treatment, he furnished them with specific instructions on how to prepare for the departure. Their instructions included the preparation of a sacrificial lamb and the distribution of its shed blood on the door posts and the lintels for all of the firstborn who would expect to escape the death angel. They were instructed to prepare and eat the Passover lamb with great sobriety and anticipation of a swift departure from the land of Egypt. They were to eat it "with . . . loins girded, shoes on your feet, and . . . staff in hand; and ye shall eat it in haste, it is the LORD’S passover."

Israel had long been under the bondage of the Pharaohs in Egypt, unjustly enslaved. It had not been so during the kinder days of Joseph’s administration and the rulership of the next few Pharaohs. Providential overruling saw to it that the Israelites would grow and develop and gain national strength in the land of Egypt. The twelve tribes remained intact and united, not disintegrated into other lands where they might have had an abode. No social intercourse appears to have developed between Israelites and Egyptians.

They were directed to the land of Goshen described as " . . . in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, . . ." (Gen. 47:11). The Hyksos kings were on the throne of Egypt at this time, having previously invaded the land. The Egyptians hated them. Joseph was favored, and likewise his people, by the Hyksos pharaoh; this preserved the Hebrews from associating with Egyptians and falling into their idolatry. We can readily see the providential significance of this historical situation in opening the way for the sojourn of Israel into Egypt. Here the words God had declared to Abraham were fufilled—that his seed would be out of the promised land for a period (Acts 7:17-19; Gen. 15:13-14).

Genesis ends with the promise of a dying Joseph that "God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land in the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob" (Gen. 50:24-25).

Types and Shadows

Old Testament types were furnished for examples to the Christian. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor. 10:11). The night of the Passover represents the night of the Gospel age (Psa. 30:5). Natural Israel represents spiritual Israel—the church of the Gospel Age. Pharaoh in the Land of Egypt represents Satan, the god of this world, and his oppressive action against the body of Christ throughout the Gospel age. Moses represents Jesus Christ: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, unto him ye shall hearken;" (Deut. 18:15, Acts 3:22). The Passover lamb slaying represents the sacrificial death of Christ to save the world from Adam’s sin and restore it to an opportunity of life everlasting. The Death Angel symbolizes the condition of death from which the spiritual firstborn (the church) only (Heb. 12:23) are saved during the Gospel age. The spreading of the blood on the door-posts and lintels pictures the blood of Jesus Christ saving the church from Adamic condemnation of death during the Gospel age.

Clearly the mobilization of approximately 2,000,000 Israelites (counting women and children, Exod. 12:37) was a serious logistical concern. The confusion in Egypt caused by the ten plagues, which climaxed in the death of all unprotected firstborn, permitted sufficient time and opportunity for Israel to organize and depart. The record tells us that they "borrowed jewels" (Exod. 12:35). These, however, were not loans, but gifts—payment of debts for accumulated generations of slave labor. God commanded the Egyptians to supply the Israelites’ necessities and even some luxuries for their trip (Exod. 3:21-22; 11:2-3). After the plagues, the Egyptians feared the Hebrew people (Exod. 12:33).

The Israelites were instructed to be dressed and ready to go in the morning after partaking of the Passover the evening before. Promptness and attention to detail would mark the successful Israelite in his or her escape from bondage. God’s instructions to his people throughout the ages have been marked with sufficient clarity and economy of words that have meant life and health to the hearer and doer of that word (Deut. 4:1; 6:1-2; 8:1).

The expressions "having your loins girded and your shoes on your feet and your staff in hand" picture the individual’s complete preparation for a long and arduous journey. The specific utterance which we will examine is "staff in hand."

Staff: For Standing

The idiom "staff in hand" or "staff" occurs in eleven books of the Old Testament. Strong’s Concordance defines the Hebrew word for staff, maqquelah, "to germinate a shoot, i.e. a stick (with leaves) for walking, striking, guiding, rod, staff."

One familiar use of a staff is an instrument to assist in standing erect. One can well imagine the conditions of traveling through the difficult environment of the Egyptian and Sinai Deserts; it is easy to see where a long, wooden rod would be invaluable for support. A staff would be handy to resist the wind forces of an abrupt desert sand storm. Leaning upon a staff would provide valuable moments of rest and relaxation from the rigors of travel.

As Christians, we are reminded to confidently stand in our faith in our heavenly Father (Rom. 5:2). Our standing is that favored position as sons of God which we enjoy through the shed blood of our Master and Savior Jesus. Additionally, while we stand, we ". . . rejoice in hope of the glory of God." This hope is built on the exceeding great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4) given us by the Father that we will behold his glory as the Son does behold his glory. We have a foretaste of the immensity of the glory of God.

In 1 Corinthians 16:13, we are admonished to "stand fast in the faith", to be like men— strong. We are to do all things in love. Elsewhere we are encouraged to "stand fast, therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

In Ephesians 6:13 a wardrobe for the successful Christian soldier is given to us. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: . . . ." This wardrobe is analogous to Israel’s just before their departure from Egypt. The similar language of "loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in hand" are strikingly similar to the implements given in Ephesians 6. Israel was commanded to be properly attired and ready to go—so should we. It is imperative that we learn how the armor is to be appropriated and maintained in our walk with the Lord. We start, therefore, with our loins girded about with truth. Jesus told us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. This liberty about which we have just spoken is a precious feature of our faith and should be carefully guarded as we "keep our hearts with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." We should watch and pray—pray always that we not enter into temptation by becoming spiritually lethargic.

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins reminds us that it is possible and, yea, even probable that many will sleep, flagging in their Christian zeal. We wear the breastplate of righteousness, having our sins covered by Christ’s precious blood. Our feet are shod with the gospel of peace as we tell all with whom we have contact about the divine plan of our heavenly Father to bring peace on earth in a way never before experienced by man. In faith, we quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one since we are confident that regardless of what our Father may permit, we will not fall if we do these things (2 Peter 1:10).

Jesus commanded his followers upon their departure into the ministry that "they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse" (Mark 6:8). As the text goes on, it is clear that Jesus is not concerned about the mundane matters of food and dress as it relates to the advancement of his Father’s kingdom. Jesus’ admonition is to "seek ye first the kingdom of heaven" and all mundane necessities will be supplied for the execution of our responsibilities.

Staff: Sword of the Spirit

The Hebrews in the desert went forth with staff in hand led by Moses; the Christian similarly goes forward through the desert of this world’s condition with the sword of spirit in hand, led by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). In the Ephesians account, all implements of the armor are set for defense while the sword of the spirit appears to be an implement of offense. Truth is not a passive but active characteristic as that "shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

Moses wielded his "rod" in Exodus 4:2 in an authoritative and combative fashion. Here the word "rod" is from the Hebrew matteh, (Strong’s #4294), and is elsewhere translated staff (Gen. 38:18, Isa. 9:4, 10:5, 15, 24, 14:5, 28:27, 30:32). Jehovah directed Moses to use his staff to convince Hebrews to "believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath appeared unto thee." Later, the rod of Aaron, upon becoming a serpent, swallowed the serpents which developed from the rods of Pharaoh’s magicians. This beautifully pictures how the truth will consume and replace error and darkness. Satan will wage a strong war and prove to be a formidable foe but will ultimately be destroyed in the process (Heb. 2:14). Truth, the word of God, is "sharper than any two-edged sword." It exposes error before God and the world and is a discerner of the intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12). We are symbolically reminded of the Son of man of Revelation 1:13 walking in the midst of the seven candlesticks, out of whose mouth "went a sharp two-edged sword." Truth demands that we abandon preconceived, erroneous notions, especially concerning the nature and plans and purposes of our God and his Son Christ Jesus. Many seeds of error have been sown concerning these basic truths so as to distort and even prevent the truth from becoming known to many of the world’s inhabitants (Matt. 13:25).

Staff: Support, Comfort, Rest

One of the most popular scriptural verses on this subject is found in Psalms 23:4, "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The word "rod" in Psalms 23 is taken from #7626. The rod and staff of Psalms 23:4 provides both correction and protection. David says that although he is walking through the valley of the shadow of death (Adamic condemnation and death), he fears no evil because he is comforted with the word of truth that his heavenly Father has given.

The earthly shepherd uses his staff to carefully and lovingly direct his sheep into an area of protection and nurturing. A close relationship develops between the sheep and the shepherd. Sheep come to recognize the familiar tones of their master’s voice and are unwilling to respond to others. Jesus, the good Shepherd, exercises his pastoral care with the spiritual staff of his truth and its many faceted ministry to the sons of God (Heb. 7:25). A foretaste of the glory to come and a glimpse into our heavenly Father’s plan is more than ample to sustain us through the night of this Gospel age. We sorrow not as those who have no hope and look forward joyfully to the morning of the Millennial dawn. It is not necessary for us to know all the details of its inauguration, but it is sufficient that we are familiar with its concepts so beautifully expressed in holy scripture (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Staff: Authority, Rulership

The writer to the Hebrews mentions "staff" in regard to Jacob’s dying request. In Hebrews 11:21 (Diaglott) Benjamin Wilson comments that Joseph’s "rod" was higher or his power was greater than all others; consequently Jacob worshipped God on account of the height of Joseph’s power. The King James translation renders the word "rod" (from Strong’s #7626), meaning "rulership." God’s rulership in our lives is a comfort to us.

Summary

Thus we have seen how the walk of the consecrated man or woman of God is typified in that ancient trek of the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land. We see that the staff or rod utilized by Moses, Aaron and others in making this journey beautifully typifies the staff of authority, comfort, protection, confidence; all of which are derived from an abiding faith in an eternal God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). We can rest surely in that "He who has begun a good work in us, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). Let us go forth wielding our staff in hand in an authorized manner to honor and glorify our heavenly Father and obey Jesus Christ. Let us, like the ancient Hebrews, "walk in newness of life" carrying our "staff in hand," enabling us to go forward in our Christian journey.