8579. 'And your rod with which you struck the river' means the Divine power by means of which falsities were dispelled. This is clear from the meaning of 'rod' as power, dealt with in 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, 6947, 7011, 7026, at this point Divine power because 'Moses', whose rod it was, represents the Lord in respect of Divine Truth; and from the meaning of 'the river', in this instance the river of Egypt, as falsity, dealt with in 6693. The words 'with which you struck the river' are used in order to mean the dispelling of falsity; for the Divine power by which truth is supplied is also the means by which falsities are dispelled. The truth which is supplied is meant by 'the water from the rock in Horeb'.

7011. 'And you are to take this rod in your hand' means Divine power in these [two kinds of truth]. This is clear from the meaning of 'rod' as power, dealt with in 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, especially when it is held in the hand since 'hand' means spiritual power and 'rod' natural power.

There is no power at all in the natural unless it receives it from the spiritual, just as a rod has none unless it is held in the hand; and that is why it says that he was 'to take it in his hand'. Used in reference to the Lord 'hand' means the power going forth from His Divine Rational, and 'rod' the power going forth from His Divine Natural, see 6947. Divine power is said to be in these - the kinds of truth dealt with above - because power has reference to truth, 3091, 6344, 6427, 6948.