Welcome back to Time in the Word. We are further into our adventure with Moses, and this week we wrap up the discussion of The Making of Moses: God Speaks Through the Burning Bush with part two. You can catch Part One right here.
Grab a Bible and turn to Exodus 3:7-22, or you can look up the scripture digitally here.
Last week Moses encountered God in the burning bush. The burning bush was significant because God revealed:
- Through the fire, God revealed his HOLINESS.
- The burning bush represented his GLORY.
- God showed his CARE for the Israelites.
- A NAME representative of who God was, was given to Moses by God himself.
- He gave the revelation of GRACE and the CROSS.
Last week we talked about God’s HOLINESS, which is his standard. This standard separates him from any other god. God is also the only TRUE God. In regarding God as holy, we should be reverent in approaching him. Pride is man’s biggest downfall. In our reverence toward our holy God, we recognize he is set apart from everything that he has made. Our sin further separates us from him.
His Glory
God used the fire in the burning bush to display his GLORY. It must have been frightening to witness a bush on fire, with a voice coming out of it. The fire served as a reminder to Moses, and soon the Israelites, of God’s majesty.
This display of glory would serve as a majestic reminder during the hard times that would come. God would use the pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day.
Care and concern for his people, then and now
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Israelites stuck in bondage would never hear that verse. That verse was for us. Part of the hope we share as Christians. God was Israel’s only hope.
God cared very much for “his people” and heard their cry for mercy. Interestingly, right there in Exodus, God called the Israelites “my people” for the very first time.
Even though his glory and holiness were represented in the burning bush, you should know that the bush was not burnt up. This fact symbolizes it is not God’s intent to destroy or consume us. He seeks to lead us out of bondage and into the Promised Land.
Can you find the parallels in our Christian walk with the Israelite’s bondage in Egypt?
I’m not sure where this is going
When Moses took off his sandals, he reverently bowed and hid his face as God began speaking to him. Through the burning bush, Moses listened to God explain he had seen his people’s misery and heard their cry. God told Moses that he would be rescuing them and delivering them to the Promised Land.
God quickly informs Moses that Moses would return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of bondage. Then God bluntly tells Moses, “Go!”
Pause for just a moment and put yourself in Moses’s shoes. How would you have reacted to a burning bush? What would you have thought after a voice began to talk to you from that burning bush?
I bet neither you nor I would have even dared to look up. I believe our soul/spirit would instantly recognize our Creator with immediate reverence. Just the burning bush alone would have been distracting! Now a voice?
Next week we will cover Moses’ questions for God and the importance of the name “I AM”. As always, thank you for joining me here, today, in Time in the Word.
Michele Bruxvoort is sure to draw you in with her delightful sense of humor and love for living life. She enjoys reading, repurposing, as well as remodeling the family home with her husband. Drawing from her life experience as wife, mom, and follower of Jesus, Michele brings you a very honest and real perspective on life. When you don’t find her writing, you can find her mowing lawns, stocking shelves, taking care of her grandbaby and tackling her latest life adventure.
Wisconsin native and empty-nester, she now makes her home with her husband of 27 years in the South West Prairie plains of Minnesota.
