Today’s Burning Bushes
Exodus 3:1-17 talks about how God used a burning bush to get Moses to pay attention to Him, gather His people, and get the heck out of Egypt. Moses balked a little as he didn’t fancy himself to be a powerful orator and God told Moses to shut up and follow His word (my interpretation). Pretty powerful stuff, right? Moses is just hanging out herding sheep and SHA-ZAAM! A burning bush is in his path.
God still speaks to us. He still tells us what to do and I call them burning bushes. Why do I do this? Cuz I like imagery and the story is powerful so it’s a cool combination. I mean, here’s Moses telling God that he can’t do His bidding as Moses lacked speaking skills. That’s hilarious to me cuz who in their right mind is gonna argue with God?
Oh wait. I do. All. The. Time.
God speaks in whispers at first. You’ll have a gut instinct to make a decision and you ignore it. Then you might have a dream about it and still take no action. Then perhaps you’ll see repeating numbers that make you take notice and yet no action. Then you’ll start hearing the same message said in different ways over a couple of days by your friends, family, coworkers, and the check-out person at Target. If you still don’t heed Him, if you continue to ignore Him, He will continue to talk to you until you sit up and pay heed—I call these burning bushes.
For instance, say you have a job that is not fulfilling or even interferes with your relationship with God. You have a feeling you should quit, but you’re not confident you’ll find another job or be able to pay bills so you tell that feeling to take a hike and argue logistics with it until it quiets. Then you’ll have a few REALLY bad days at work. Yet still you’re scared so you take no action. Then perhaps you’re on Facebook and you read about a job opportunity that might be perfect for you but you tell yourself your current job is fine and you ignore the message yet again. God doesn’t like to be argued with or ignored—He likes to be submitted to—so you go to work on Friday only to find out that you no longer have a job (downsizing, performance issues, whatever). You’ve ignored His burning bushes SO MANY TIMES that He had to insert Himself into your life forcing you onto the path He has created for you.
Friend, where are the burning bushes in your life? What are you being called to do and yet resisting? Moses STRUGGLED with submission. His entire life he went back and forth arguing with God in his thoughts, words, and actions. When he finally did submit, God blessed him and his family tremendously. God had a life of abundance for Moses but needed Moses to submit. He has a life of abundance for you and he needs you to submit. Where are you inserting your will over His? Where are you going left when He’s told you to go right? I encourage you to pray and submit. Walk in Faith. He’s got the coolest life of abundance waiting for you but you have to do work to get there—you have to walk to Him. You have the God given right of free-will and He needs you to choose Him and follow him—even when you’re fearful. Heck, ESPECIALLY when you’re fearful. Walk in Faith, friend. You’re on God’s team—victory is meant to be yours
