Wednesday 15 July 2009
- Bible Book:
- Exodus
es said, 'I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.' When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.'" (v.1-2)
Background
When we encounter Moses in the above passage, he has fled Egyptas a fugitive from Pharaoh's justice, married into a Midianitefamily and become a shepherd. For Moses it was an ordinary day:lead the flocks out to forage and water, lead them back again. Andthen ... a burning bush - that didn't burn up! - and a voice whichcame from the ... bush?!
Moses, naturally, decided to check things out. But there was nomagic, no junior shepherd playing tricks on him. The voice was realand it addressed him by name. And the voicewas God's.
Throughout the Bible, God doesn't tend to approach people in theway popular imagination might suggest. There's no spooky orethereal music and the like. God approaches people when and wherethey least expect it: at work (
In verse 2 the "angel of the Lord" appeared to Moses in the burningbush. Our English word 'angel' comes from a Hebrew word that simplymeans 'messenger' - with no mention of wings or haloes. Theimportant thing is that the person who receives the message is inno doubt that the message is extraordinary - it is of God. And suchmessages usually change lives.
To Ponder
God is often more ready to speak to us than weare to listen. Could you set aside daily time (5-10 minutes) awayfrom iPods, TVs, mobile phones, etc simply to wait upon God insilence? What's stopping you? Try it.
Throughout the Bible God uses all kinds ofmessengers (angels) to speak to people, and God still speaks to us.God might use you to give a message to someone or perhaps you mightbe the recipient. When might you have 'entertained angels unawares'(Hebrews13:2)?