Moses: At the Bush

In the past few weeks I have journeyed.... often doubt, questioning, and desperate longing were my companions as I have sought His plan, purpose, and guidance in my life.  Soon, the words may come to express those steps, paths and "home-coming".  Today, however, I return to Moses and the lessons the Father is teaching me through this journey in my life right now.  First we must look back at where we have traveled with Moses thus far...... 

Moses: The Beginning
Moses: In a Basket
Moses: The Murder
Moses: At the Well

Let us lace up our shoes once again and follow along with Moses...... In Exodus 3:1-12.

"One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:1-12 NLT)

Oh this passage is so rich with deeper lessons for us! So, often we do not engage with many of the individuals within the passages of the Old Testament because we think them irrelevant following the redemption of Christ.  However, the character of our Father God is the same and looking at the beginning of His love story with humanity makes the gospel of redemption even more priceless and beautiful!

First, notice how Moses is drawn to the burning bush.... he cannot help but draw closer to it.  Anytime we see God working, active, and alive in our world, we must draw closer to it!  Seeing god work will leave us in awe of our creator and leave us longing for more!  Others will have the same response when they see God working in us and that is why it is so critical that we share our journeys together- by doing so, we are allowing others to see a glimpse of the Father and leave them longing for more of HIM.

Second, I love that God called Moses by name and makes his identity clear.  In some of our previous posts we discussed how Moses seemed to not "fit" in his world.  He was an Israelite by birth and an Egyptian by adoption... slave by birth and royalty by adoption.... yet, neither group really claimed him.  Where did he fit?  God sets the record straight by claiming to him, "I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” God is, in essence, saying to him "You are mine, Moses.  You may not know where you fit, but I do.  You are my child."  J D Greear shares in his book, Gospel Revolution, that the evil one often attacks our identity in Christ first knowing that if he can get us to doubt who we are, then he will be able to lead us away from the life we are called to live in Christ.  This is so true with Moses- the evil one makes him doubt his place and identity, but our precious God reminds him of who he truly is.  He does the same with us!  The process of healing and redemption of a struggle or situation will often start with Him reminding us of who we are to Him.... His precious child bought by the life-blood of His Sacrificed Son who is our Savior- Jesus!  We are His!!!

Another realization that struck me is that God always hears the cries of His people- they never fall on deaf ears.  If you are in a desperate place and feel that He has all but forgotten you- do not doubt that He has heard your pleas for help.  If you do not see His response, yet, then know with absolute certainty that there is purpose in the delay.  Something greater is coming because God never allows His children to suffer one moment longer than necessary, but He often waits until we are at such a place of emptiness that only He can resolve things.  The thing is.... when emptiness is all that we seem to have, often that is when we realize that HE is really all that we need.  You may feel like the tears slipping down your cheeks mean nothing to Him, but the desperate truth is that your tears, prayers and pleas move Him to action.... but He will often wait until He is our only resource.... and He always waits until it is in our best interest.

I also love that the very past that Moses thought made him useless is the very thing that makes him most useful to God.   My friend, so often our past is the fertile ground where God plants the seeds for our divine, redeemed future.  Our past failures, hurts, disappointments and trials can all be used in our Father's capable hands to become good and useful for His kingdom.  Our God is that sovereign- even our past can be redeemed for His glory!

Finally, God never sends us where He isn't with us.  My friend, no matter what journey you are on at this time, our Father is ever with you.  He never leaves us. Even with the world seems to turn it's back on us or people seem to fail us- He never does!  He is ever faithful and ever present in your life.  Never allow the evil one to make you feel alone, but it is simply a lie.  Just as He promises to be with Moses- He is always with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.  You are never alone.... never.

My friend, it is my prayer that no matter what place you find yourself today, that you will lift your hands in praise of our Father and Savior in desperate anticipation of what He still wants to do in your life.  You are redeemed for a purpose and as long as there is breath in your lungs, that purpose is not fulfilled.  He is not finished with you yet- so let us rejoice in the journey still ahead!

Blessings, my Friends.... until next time....