QUESTION: What is a staff used for today? What was it used for in ancient times?

Today a staff may be used for walking. But in ancient times, the staff was a critical component and instrument of correction and protection. The shepherd's staff is the most popular of all the staffs and was used to keep the sheep in line. He would use it in a variety of ways. Sometimes he would just hold it out to one side so they could see it and would go in the opposite direction. At other times he would poke them in the side so they would do what he wanted them to do. And still at other times he would have to use the staff as a weapon to ward off predators that wanted to take advantage of his flock. In the same way, the Father uses His staff, His Holy Word, to guide, poke, chastise, and protect us. His staff was a symbol of power and authority.

When a bride and groom have planned a wedding day, do they just show up on the day or do they spend months planning out every last detail? When you are scheduled to go on vacation on May 1st, do you wait until the morning of to purchase your airline tickets and make reservations for your family? I hope not. In the same way, if you knew that the Messiah was coming back 30 days from now, would you not make final preparations before leaving this earth? This is what the month of Elul, the sixth month on the Hebrew calendar, is all about. Elul is like the "John the Baptist" forerunner month before the coming of the Messiah during the Fall Feast days.