By Guest Writer
There was an older gentleman in my hometown that took me under his wing when I was in middle school. He gave me my first motorcycle ride, taught me the importance of a firm handshake, and explained how to smooth talk your way out of a tight spot.
One summer he hired me to work for him and dubbed me his “official representative.” It wasn’t as fancy as it sounds. My work usually consisted of trips to the hardware store for more nails and calling customers to tell them their order was ready (or not). I was essentially a glorified errand boy.
Whenever I was acting on his behalf, he’d always say, “Remember, if anyone gives you trouble, tell ‘em Larry sent you.” Larry knew that no one would listen to me, and so when I spoke, he wanted everyone to know they weren’t listening to me—they were listening to Larry through me. That made all the difference.
When angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the burning bush, something very similar was happening—only far more important. In fear for his life, Moses fled to Midian from his home in Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. He made a nice life for himself there. He married and settled down, and soon Egypt became a distant memory.
But then, after years of living the inconspicuous life of a shepherd, Moses was thrust into the very center stage of redemptive history.
Trembling, he slipped off his sandals and rested his bare feet on the holy ground as God introduced Himself. Moses could hardly believe his ears when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Feeling completely unqualified for the job, Moses questioned God. Why me? What am I to say? Who am I to say sent me?
Patiently, God responded, “Just tell them ‘I am’ sent you” (Exodus 3:14).
The truth is, God knew Moses wasn’t qualified for the job. He also knew that Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to the voice of Moses. But that’s okay, because Moses wasn’t acting on his own behalf. God was speaking and acting through Moses, and in the end, that made all the difference.
We may not be hearing God’s voice from the midst of a burning bush, or leading a nation of captives to freedom, but each day we live and move as representatives of God in the world. It is an act of faith to do what the Lord has called us to do without relying upon human confidence and credentials, but to instead remember that your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
Let His strength be perfected in your weakness today (2 Corinthians 12:9). In the name of the Lord, answer God’s call on your life, and as you do, trust God to do the heavy lifting. That’s what He did for Moses. He will for you, too.
Written By Nate Shurden
48 thoughts on "Moses and the Burning Bush"
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Aaron says:
That God keeps his word and will do work through us if we allow him.
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I will pray for peace in knowing I can do all things as long as Christ is with me.
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Most likely question god, although I know that is wrong. I will try to have an open mind and heart and act on the faith that he is all mighty.
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Josh Campbell says:
This gives us insight into the Saving nature of God. This is what His Gospel is all about. His people were lost and in slavery, but God in His great mercy sent a “savior” (Moses) to bring them out of captivity. Moses was obeying his Heavenly Father, just as Jesus did. God heard the cries of His people and He put His plan into action to save them. That’s the gospel.
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These passages teach me several specific things about God. First, it says, “Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.” (Ex. 2:23b) God cares about us, not only that but He hears us, and not only THAT but He cares enough about what He hears to DO something about it. But there’s more…
“…God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” … “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
(Ex. 3:4-6) God is urgently aware of His own Holiness and power. I believe that God called out to Moses for the safety of Moses. As humans we don’t always see God’s glory in this context. It’s not that it’s not in this context, we are just often blind to it. God cared enough for Moses to protect him from aimlessly addressing God’s presence.God doesn’t call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. God didn’t say, “Moses, you’ve got this. I know you can do it,” but rather he said, “Tell them I AM sent you.” When God sends people to do His bidding, He goes before and He comes behind. God wanted Pharaoh to know who Moses was representing and He wanted the Israelites to know as well but He ALSO Moses to know who Moses was representing.
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Man trusts in perceived “qualification” but it’s God who does the qualifying. Man is passive, content to maintain the status quo, but God hears the cries of His people and initiates change for the better.
Man’s place is to follow and TRUST God, but also to pay ATTENTION, so as to not miss what God wants to do. We must keep our eyes open for the “odd burning bush” in our lives. Moses lived in a desert area so he had probably seen a million burned and burning bushes but he was paying attention enough to notice that the bush wasn’t being consumed. He saw God’s power in the bush. God is ALWAYS doing things around us but it’s easy to miss if we’re not paying attention.
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I will not rest in my own “qualifications”, but rather in the great grace that God has extended to me. The beauty of this is that when I feel wronged or disqualified by man I can forgive, because God first forgave me. Man cannot disqualify me because I was never qualified in the first place. God requires OBEDIENCE not qualification. So I will obey Him.
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This page seems like the other info I saw earlier.
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