Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

 

On his deathbed, Jacob used his staff to stand and speak to his family. In the days of old, on a person's staff was carved the great happenings of their life. It was a carved picture of everything the Lord had done throughout their entire life. It was their identity. What a family heirloom that would be! 

 

The staff was an incredibly personal and useful tool. Much like a well-documented Family Bible of today, the history of a person's life was on their staff. They took it everywhere they went. It served as a walking stick, protection, and a resting place, as well as a carved depiction of their testimony. It was their identification. 

 

The staff was used to hold them up when they were tired. It helped them to walk down rough and dusty roads. It provided something to lean on when they grew weary. It was used to ward off an attack. The staff would speak for the person when they were unable to speak for themselves.

 

When Jacob was dying, he wanted to bless his grandsons. He was very old and weak, hardly able to stand, but using his testimonial staff to lean on, he spoke his final words of blessing over them. His staff was his strength in his time of need. 

 

Today we don't use staffs, but we do have a testimony of what God has done in our lives because of our faith in Jesus Christ. He is our Staff. He is our Protection, Strength, Identity, and Resting Place. Like a person's staff was in the days of old, He is our everything. Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. He also said, Come to Me and I will give you rest.

 

The people of old took their staff with them everywhere they went. They would not be without it. Jesus wants us to take Him, our Staff, with us everywhere as well. He is our Staff, and every good thing He has ever done for us is a part of our testimony of His Goodness. Take it with you wherever you go. Use it. Lean on it. Share the carvings of your life with others. By doing so, you will build your own faith and the faith of others.

 

Jesus, our Staff, will...........turn the tide

 

Staff in hand,     Doreen

 

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