THE BURNING BUSH
By Pastor Jim May
Perhaps it was a Wednesday afternoon, as the sun burned hot in the sky over the desert of Midian. It was just another day, one of many tedious, boring days, that had been spent wandering through the wilderness in search of answers. Walking along, standing watch over the sheep, or sitting upon the rocks that littered the landscape as the flock took its fill of water at the wells of his father-in-law, Moses was alone with his thoughts and mostly silent as he contemplated his life and all that had transpired.
In the shadows of his memory were thoughts of a life that had long since passed into the sands of time. It seemed that they were of another world, or another lifetime. He was no longer a “Prince in Egypt”, but a poor shepherd on the backside of the desert, eking out an existence in the land where he had finally chosen to settle down. At least here was some peace.
But his mind would never cease to go back to those days in Egypt. Again and again, he would think of the Hebrews, the chosen people of Almighty God, who were still serving in bondage to the most powerful king on earth, Pharaoh of Egypt. How he longed to see his people free from their slavery. But what could he do other than go back and join them in the brick pits, or face execution?
I sometimes feel that way when I think of my lost loved ones. How I long to see them saved from the clutches of sin. Would to God that I could somehow set them free, but I don’t have that power, not within my own strength. I wouldn’t accomplish much more than risking the chance of falling into sin with them if I tried. It has to be done through a mighty move of God. Only God has that power to deliver from the slavery of sin!
Moses thought of Egypt but no longer could he walk the ornate halls of the imperial palace with his head held high, proud to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He would never again lead Egypt’s armies into battle as their commander. Now he was considered a traitor, and a murderer, and his name had been stricken by decree from all the records of Egypt.
In reality though, Moses really didn’t miss the regalia of Egypt. The power, prestige, honor and glory of Egypt was nothing more than a dream that had faded into oblivion, because Moses knew, that somehow, he was where he needed to be.
But where would he go from here? What plan for his life did God have in mind? Was this all there was? Would he simply live out the rest of his life tending sheep and living the life of a nomad in the desert country?
I’m sure that Moses had many questions in his heart, and not a whole lot of answers. All he knew to do was to take the next step, live the next day and wait for God to make the next move.
On this day, in the heat of the day, as the sun shone high in the sky, God was about to make his move and Moses’ life would be forever changed.
Have you ever wondered why God has you where you are right now? Has there been a time, and maybe even now, when you question God’s ways? What next God? Is there anything more for me? Have you forgotten me?
Moses lived on the backside of the desert for 40 long years while he waited for God to answer, and for the next phase of his life to begin.
It seems that Moses entire live was divided into three 40 year increments. He was 40 years old when he killed the Egyptian and fled into the desert. Then he was 80 years old when he received the 10 Commandments from God in Mt. Sinai and then 120 years old when he died and God buried him on top of the mountain.
Sometimes it seems that it takes God a long time to move on our behalf. I think that’s why so many people end up in trouble spiritually. We are people who don’t have much patience. We are people who want our answers and we want them now. “God, if you have something for me to do, then show me and let me get going right now.” How often do we fail to wait upon the Lord, or to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and go off on our own understanding, only to find our plans have been shipwrecked on the circumstances in the seas of our lives. We need to develop patience and learn to wait upon the Lord.
Let’s look at how God makes His move for Moses.
Exodus 3:1-6, "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
The one thing that strikes me about this passage of scripture is that, if you read between the lines, you will find that Moses remained faithful. The lessons that he had learned from his mother, as she nursed him, concerning Yahweh, the God of Israel, were never forgotten.
Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Moses lived long before these words were written, but the Word of God is eternal and true and it held true in the life of Moses too.
Don’t give up on those who are away from God right now. If you have instilled in them the Word of the Lord, and taught them about Jesus and the ways of righteousness, they will never forget them. The day will come when it will all come flooding back into their heart one more time. Where does God have to take them? How far will they run from God? Perhaps it will mean 40 years in the wilderness of sin, but the sun will shine again. God will burn in their hearts once more, and they will come face to face with the Word of God again.
Keep on living for God; keep on being the example you need to be; and then let God move in His own way and in His own time. The worst thing we can do is to attempt to cram the Word, and force anyone to live for the Lord. It just can’t be done. You can’t force people to love Jesus anymore than you can push a chain. Just keep on walking and holding them up in prayer. In time, they will be like that chain, following along as you pull on it. Your faithfulness, and God’s promises will make the difference!
Suddenly, unexpectedly, God appeared in a burning bush on the side of Mr. Horeb (later to be called Mt. Sinai)
It was on this mountain of consecration that Moses received his call. It was on this mountain of consecration that Moses was to receive the Law.
The same place where we remain faithful to God’s service is the place where we will receive the call. The problem with most people is that they never stay in one place long enough to develop roots and to hear from God before moving on.
There is was – a burning bush – glowing with the power of God, shining in the glory of God, and yet it was not consuming the wood and the leaves of the bush.
Three times in the scriptures we find where God is described as “consuming fire”. So why wasn’t the bush consumed?
That bush was there as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is eternal God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your God and my God, and yet he is very man. The fire represented the eternal power of His glory, while the bush, with its wood and fibers, represented the body of flesh that Jesus would have in the incarnation.
This wasn’t meant to be a consuming fire but a fire that showed forth the power and deity of God in a way that Moses could see and believe.
Perhaps it was also a symbol to Moses that he was only a mortal man, but that the power of Almighty God would be with him, burning in his heart, anointing him for God’s service, but never consuming his flesh.
Whatever the reason that God appeared in the burning bush, it served the purpose of drawing Moses’ attention and allowing him to get closer to God to hear the voice of the Lord speaking to his heart.
God knew where Moses was. He knew the concerns, the frustration and the desires of Moses’ heart. God had also heard the cries of the Children of Israel. All of this time, Moses had been on a training mission. God was preparing him for bigger and better things and making him ready to carry out the call of God in his life.
Some of you are like me. I have often wondered why God waited until I was 50 years old before calling me into the pastoral ministry. Why God, did you allow me to spend so many years working under other ministers, or wandering in the wilderness, tending to the small flock of your people that you would place under my care in the youth programs, Bible Quiz teams and Sunday School classes? Could I have served you better as a pastor?
But I know that God had to teach me and train me to be what he wanted me to be. All of my life has been a preparation time for this day, this hour, and this church. And I’m still in training for the ministry that lies ahead.
The key for us all is to just wait upon the Lord and trust Him.
One day, when you are going about your daily business, just being faithful to what God has called you to do for the time being, you just might see your “Burning Bush”.
You are just an ordinary person, and it might be on an ordinary day, but God is an extraordinary God, and he knows how to get your attention.
Just remain faithful. Your day for service will come. God has a work for each of us to do. We just have to be ready when He calls.
Have you wondered what’s next? Are you contemplating a move to serve the Lord?
The question I have is, “Have you seen the Burning Bush”? Has God put a burning down in your heart that you just can’t shake. The fire that He puts in you will be there to consume your life in service to Him, but it won’t burn you.
