Those struggling with a sense of doubt may hear the same question that Moses did: "What is that in thine hand?" (Ex. 4:2.) Moses replied, "A rod." Today we too may rightfully answer, "A rod, Lord." Christian Science elucidates the great fact that every individual possesses a rod which he can use consistently to eliminate from his experience disease, grief, loneliness, fear, and poverty.
When Moses acknowledged the rod in his hand, he recognized the all-powerful nature of Truth and his own individual ability to express this power. When the apparition of the serpent appeared to him, Moses demonstrated the divine power to handle evil, to separate the real from the illusive. He utilized the power to subdue the earth that belongs to man as God's reflection. Here we see clearly a proof of the unreality of matter and an instance of the case with which the Christ. Truth, dispels mortal illusions. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy says (p. 321): "In this incident was seen the actuality of Science. Matter was shown to be a belief only. The serpent, evil, under wisdom's bidding, was destroyed through understanding divine Science, and this proof was a staff upon which to lean."
After this, Moses demonstrated many times the spiritual authority that belonged to him as the servant of the all-powerful I am. At the edge of the Red Sea when pursued by the Egyptians, he heard the compelling voice of Truth urging him to demonstrate God's supremacy by utilizing the power he possessed as God's reflection. "The Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? . . . Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it" (Ex. 14:15, 16). Moses was obedient and, as before, the illusion of a power apart from good was destroyed. This impressive demonstration was accomplished when the great Hebrew Lawgiver discerned and proved his unity with divine power.
