One day while Moses was tending his father-in-law’s sheep, he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. While tending the sheep, he looked up to the mountain and saw something strange:
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When Moses approached the bush, God called out to Moses from the flames. God declared to Moses who He was and told Moses He had heard the cries of the Israelites. God then gave Moses a mission – So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses immediately begins to prattle off excuse after excuse to God.
🔥 Moses questions himself – who am I to do this? God tells Moses “I will always be with you.”
🔥 The Israelites will want to know who sent him? God tells Moses His name.
🔥 Moses says “They’ll never believe me.” God gives Moses His rod and the ability to do signs to prove himself to the Israelities.
🔥 Moses claims he isn’t a good speaker. God tells him He will send with Him Aaron to do all the public talking.
🔥Moses eventually just flat out says – I don’t want to go. God tells him “You will go.”
The full exchange between God and Moses in that burning bush can be found in Exodus 3 – 4. Briefly, I just focus on the first exchange:
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you...”
At that moment in Moses’ life, his life probably wasn’t what 20, 30, or even 40-year-old Moses thought it would be. Instead of a prince in Egypt, he was a wanted man. Instead of riches and wealth, he was a shepherd in the wild. Instead of a leader among men, he was a leader of sheep. While his life had meaning and purpose, it probably wasn’t what Moses had thought it would be. Then, one day he saw something strange and decided to go investigate. Once he approached the bush that did not burn, everything about Moses’ life changed again.
God gave Moses his life’s purpose – to lead the children of Israel out of bondage and to the mountain of God. But with all that had transpired in his life up to that point, Moses no longer believed himself capable of leading men. “Who am I?” Moses asked. God responded to Moses’ lack of confidence simply And God said, “I will be with you...”
I’d like to make a few observations from the burning bush and Moses:
🔥 Moses’ inquisitive nature led him to God. He saw something strange so he went to check it out. God has placed things on this earth meant to catch our attention and peak our curiosity. If we pursue those “strange things” with an open and honest heart, like Moses, God will help us find the answer. And, ultimately those things will lead us to God.
🔥 God gave Moses a renewed purpose in life after Moses’ version of his life didn’t work out. Moses thought he knew how his life would go or how he would become a leader of the Israelites. He was wrong. Yet, God did not write Moses off. Instead, he gave Moses time to reflect and mature. Then, when Moses was ready – God gave him a renewed life purpose and mission.
🔥 Sometimes when we find ourselves presented with a new opportunity or a new mission/purpose for the Lord, we doubt ourselves and our capabilities. Like Moses, we wonder can I really do this? Am I good enough? Do I have the skills? And just like Moses, God tells us – don’t worry about any of that. Go do this for me and I will be with you every step of the way. #GodsConsumingFire
Adonai's Appeal 