“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.’ So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.” Exodus 4:4

Let’s read together Acts 7:20-36 – John 15:19 – Numbers 21:4-9

The curse of influence consists of borrowing, doing, and being what one is not. One of the reasons many people adopt the ways of others is the low self-esteem they have. When one is uncomfortable in their own skin, they try to be or become like others, they borrow the lifestyles of others. That’s how, when I was younger, I was very susceptible to influence.

The curse of influence consists of borrowing, doing, and being what one is not. I wanted to be like those who were confident, who seemed to know what they wanted. So, I would adopt the French accent when I met French people, the Cameroonian or Senegalese accent during short stays in those countries. I would become aggressive or showy depending on who I was with. The Bible says:

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7

The poor borrow to exist, the rich borrow to improve. There is a difference between the borrowing of a rich person and that of a poor person. The poor borrow to exist, the rich borrow to improve. There is a difference between the borrowing of rich countries and that of poor countries. Similarly, there is a difference between those who borrow to expand their market and those who borrow to have a market. The borrowing of the poor makes them slaves. Some imitate to do better, others imitate because they feel they are worth nothing; these are the poor whose borrowing leads to slavery, dependence. To lend to nations, as a Christian, you must be proud and rich in what Jesus has made of you. As long as you are uncomfortable in your own skin, you will be negatively influenced.

Why did God choose to transform Moses’ staff into a snake? I think one of the reasons is the symbolic nature of the serpent. Indeed, Moses knew his calling for the deliverance of Israel, but he borrowed Egyptian methods, as well as his position and Egyptian identity, to try to fulfill God’s plan (Acts 7:22-25). One interpretation I give to the action of grasping the snake (Exodus 4:4) is that God was encouraging Moses to grasp the wisdom of the serpent; that is to say, He was saying to him, “Be yourself, it is with what you are and what you possess that I will deliver Israel! Grasp the snake, grasp its wisdom.“

Later, God used a bronze serpent to save the people who were chronically envious of being like the Egyptians (Numbers 21:4-9). Indeed, in the story of the bronze serpent, the people were once again seeking to return to Egypt, which greatly displeased the Lord. When the people implored His mercy, God, to deliver them from the plague of snake bites that struck them, had a bronze serpent made that they had to look at, contemplate, to be saved.

God used the image of the serpent that does not change (bronze) to make them understand the importance of remaining faithful to their nature. Indeed, despite its weaknesses, despite the contempt, the hatred it receives, the serpent is an animal that cannot be tamed, that cannot be assimilated, it will never become what you want it to be; it is what it is. Snakes are autonomous, and all snake breeders will tell you that. Therefore, they remain cautious and on guard, knowing that the snake is never truly tamed.

You are a child of God, stop acting like the pagans, dressing according to their fashion. Stop feeling important when you immerse yourself in what the worldly find important. Stop seeking in their methods the means to fulfill your divine destiny.

People will take from you because you are of God, not because you resemble them. Have character in Christ; this is how you will lend to nations. It’s not for you to go to them, but for them to come to you. A snake is faithful to its nature. Be faithful to your nature as a child of God. Have no complexes about reading your Bible, going to church, preaching Jesus, even in public. Your character becomes strong when you know who you are. That’s why Joseph didn’t act like his brothers; he was aware that he was of the same nature as his father Jacob.

Let’s pray together: Heavenly Father, help me to be proud and faithful to my Christian identity. As You are my Heavenly Father, so I am. Amen A.

I’m reading my Bible in 1 year: 2 Kings 8 • Daniel 12 – 1 Timothy 5

This text is an excerpt from the book “Blessed to Bless 1 – Developing the Conquest Mentality” written by Apostle Mohammed SANOGO.

We invite you to read the following article “THE ART OF BYPASSING CURSES“.