And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush. So he looked, and behold the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
Moses was an 80-year-old shepherd working for his father-in-law in the wilderness of Midian. Though he had been raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, those days were long gone. The memories of his youth in Egypt were distant to Moses. He may have had dreams of going back to Egypt and helping his people, but now he was old. In some ways his life must have been hard, and repetitive, and tedious and stressful. It was the life of a shepherd, surrounded by animals that needed food.
Now Moses is confronted by a new challenge, a perpetually burning bush. When he stops to take notice a voice from the bush speaks.. It is God calling him to something new. He has been leading sheep to good land, but now the Lord wants him to lead His people to the Promised Land. The book of Exodus then describes how God uses Moses to deliver Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
What would have happened if Moses had not stopped and looked? What if fear drove him away from the burning bush? This possibility is not described in the passage but we can imagine what would have taken place. Moses would have returned to his life unchanged or worse, wary of God because he didn’t stop to understand what the Lord was trying to communicate to him. Moses would have never received his calling, nor been the great prophet that freed an enslaved people and humbled a mighty nation.
Is there a burning bush in your life? Has God called you to something greater than you could imagine but you whizzed by without stopping because you weren’t comfortable with the possibility of having to change your priorities? Do you think that opportunity has passed you by and you've missed your chance to make a mark in God's Kingdom?
The bible says, He who has called you is faithful, who also will do it. Remember one thing; God is in that burning bush. Don’t worry that you have ignored it in the past. It burns perpetually. There is always a place to serve in your church. Attend faithfully and draw near to the Word preached. His voice will speak and show you what to do. As it says in the Proverbs,In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Scripture references:
Exodus 3:2
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Proverbs 3:5
1 comment:
Nice Dad...I like the blog. Looks cool. I like what you said at the end about being uncomfortable with changing the priorities in life. I think that whenever we hear the call of God our flesh doesn't want anything to do with it. But it's just like Jesus said in Lk. 9:23; we don't allow our flesh to feel comfortable, but we just take up our cross and follow after God. Love you guys back home.
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