A few early thoughts:
This encounter has a real "X-Files" feel to it. I love the way Moses remains composed enough to really BE with God. Composed enough to say "Who me? -- ya gotta be kidding!" Were there ANY willing and enthusiastic prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures? Or were they all (understandably) as hesitant as Moses? Perhaps such hesitancy is part of one's reverence for the call of God to prophesy....
Another part of the passage that stands out for me is God saying "I will be with you". I hear a tenderness in that........ Also, God's description of the oppression of the people of Israel is revealing. It seems to me that this part of the encounter says two things. One, that God's heart is broken by the plight of the chosen people. Two, that God seeks out relationship with creation (in this case Moses)to share that broken-ness. This could have been a cold handing out of the "assignment" for Moses, but God's revelation of God's awareness of the pain of Israel means there is something more happening here.....relationship.
I'm rambling.....just thought I would offer a few early reflections.
Blessings, SueCan
I am a first time contributor, I have really enjoyed reveiwing this site for the last little while.
I love this passage of the burning bush. I was really impressed with the Hollywood cartoon interpreation, in the movie "The Prince of Egypt". The manner in which God was depicted touched me. God was all through the scene. First as a small voice calling Moses, Moses -- then it grew and so did the wind "Take of your shoes" -- and then the "I am who I am" by this time the presence is within Moses. This all consuming God, within-without is what it is all about. The whole person is effected by God, it is not superficial contact that we have with the Almighty, it is all consuming. Beginning thoughts. Heather on the Huron
I just wonder about the statement God makes, "I have heard the cry of my people." What's the deal? I shoulds as though God has been out of town and just checked his answering machine. What cause God to all of a sudden here the cry of His people? Brent MS
BrentMS,
Your question is the question of the ages isn't it? The question of the mother whose child dies of leukemia, the question of the Jews at Auschwitz, the question of Christ on the cross. A question that won't be answered on this side of eternity in any satisfactory manner now will it?
So, my friend, I wonder why we should ask it. I guess if Christ did, we can, but the lesson is that victory is in the morning, that our timing and God's timing are rarely lined up, that perseverance is key, that faithfulness is required and that eventually the answer comes, and it is glorious...
Rick in Va
I don't have an answer as to why God tells Moses that he has Now? heard the cry of the people in Egypt, but I take great comfort that the God of all places and all times hears the cry of pain, and has seen the oppression of those who are in bondage. Also, this shows that this God, this ever mysterious God is not limited by place or geography, like most Gods were thought of at that time.
I wonder if this word in our time could be a word of hope to those of us who have friends and family engaged in self-destructive behavior, especially those of us who are having to deal with suicide or drug overdoses. Maybe God hears those cries of pain, and is much more merciful than we have imagined before.
God has good ears-I think that's very good news!
RevGilmer In Texarkana
For a nifty, offbeat take on the story of Moses and the burning bush, take a look at "The Voice from the Mop Bucket," first story in Max Lucado's book, "When God Whispers Your Name." --- Dave K. in Ohio <><
I wonder if there'd be a Hebrew scholar out there, feeling inclined to give us some insight on the "hearing" that God is "now" doing.
I'm willing to spend hours reconstituting my Hebrew and looking through books, but my quick question is: Could this translate as "I have been hearing the cry of my people." I don't remember the name for this, but the idea is something like an ongoing and present tense.
In other words, God hasn't just gotten back to check the machine. God has been hearing the cries from the beginning. As Rick said, this is not a new question, it is in fact the Psalmist's question: "How long oh, Lord will you hide your face from me?" and "Why have you foresaken me?" (perhaps familiar to some of us as words of Jesus on the cross).
However, if this does answer that question, the new question is, why is God just now getting around to doing something about it. I have never been comfortable with the notion of God's omnipotence (see Dostevsky and other's on theodicy).
I like how Wendy Farley treats this concept of power. If God's power is grounded in an all loving-ness, then God indeed is all powerful. But if power in our understanding is placed upon God, then indeed the problem of human suffering and pain must be "laid at the feet" of this God.
Yes, God is all loving but the omnipotence of God is limited to the loving nature of God. Therefore the hearing and the doing in response to the "cries of my people" are governed by God's love which is God's power.
Of course, later God will meet Pharoah's army and then we will be forced to struggle with power and love again.
Rambling thoughts on the problem of pain.
Kelly in Tacoma
Here are some things of interest that I read this evening doing my exegesis
In v.12 God tells Moses of a sign but it's not a show of power before the fact to encourage Moses or reassure him. The sign seems to be that Israel will be a new people worshipping at the mountain.
I'm getting pretty wrapped up in the name for God YHWH. "I AM WHO I AM," "I AM, BECAUSE I AM," "I AM THAT I AM," "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE," "I WILL BE WHAT I WAS." It's also interesting to compare this new(?) name with some used in Genesis such as El Elyon (God Most High), El Roi (God who sees me), El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Olam (the Eternal God). YHWH can be seen as being both non-specific and all-encompassing. Unlike previous names YHWH doesn't limit God to any particular characteristic. God is what God is. God's nature doesn't change.
With this commissioning you can also ask about the mission that Moses is being sent on. It isn't Moses' mission that God is helping out on. It is God's mission and Moses is part of God's work.
Thinking about the burning bush it was interesting to think about "Acts of God" the way they are discribed in insurance policies. Usually they're thought of as destructive like an earthquake (God bless those in Turkey), or a flood, or a drought, but here God is a burning that doesn't destroy or consume. Seemed kind of interesting, rather profound ;-)
I think this is going to be a pretty cool sermon when all is said and done. The Hebrew Bible lessons don't seem to get preached enough in my church. (I'm supplying this Sunday)
Shalom: Tom in Ontario
I am pondering the thought of preaching on this text this Sunday night. I am a lay speaker and don't get the opportunity to preach often. Could use any insight you experts my have out there. How many of us have had "burning bush" experiences in our faith journey? When has God called you to do something for Him? Were you like Moses, scared and not wanting to do it? What does God want you and me to learn from this Scripture this week? Any of your thoughts would be a blessing. Harrell, TX.
We've been preaching on the Hebrew Scripture texts all summer and have really enjoyed getting into the narratives. One thing that stands out for me at the end of the summer sermons is the extent to which the Hebrew texts depict REAL people. It seems like every week I could choose the hymn "Just As I Am, Lord, just as I am". The characters in the stories are so much like you and I, they have doubts, fears, and confusion about the part they are asked to play in God's vision for creation.
We all have those "Who me?" moments, those moments when we falter (like Peter in the gospel text this week), but we learn and grow in our faith, assured by God's presence every step of the Way.
The congregation has responded very positively to the Hebrew scripture "series" this summer, I suspect because they can find themselves in every story, and hear the good news of God's abiding love for us "just as we are" :)
I'm still wrestling with this week's sermon. You are right Tom, this has the potential to be a great sermon text! I have read "The Voice from the Mop Bucket" -- it's super!!
Blessings, SueCan
Greetings,
HELP!!!! I decided I would really like to base my message on Max Lucado's "The Voice from the Mop Bucket", suggested earlier by Dave K. from Ohio.
At one point, I had the book, but have obviously loaned it out and can't find it. I'm fairly uncertain about copyright policies and correct protocol on that front, but does anyone know how I could get a copy of the story?
?? Maybe on the net somewhere? ? or if someone were willing to post it (I don't think it's that long), would that work? Or, perhaps I could post my email address if someone could pass it on that way??
Any help here would be much appreciated, as I would really like to use the story.
Thanks!! SueCan
Harrell, I wondered too when i read this scripture, what does it take for God to get our attention? I know it took dropping some bricks on my head for me to finally go into the ministry! I gave about every reason in the book why not me - female, temper, not saintly enough, and Christ said, "MY grace is sufficient for you." how do you argue with that? i still worried that it might be my idea and not God's that i was called into the ministry, but two weeks in a row, while i was praying over this decision (no one knew), people came up to me and asked or told me when i was going to be a preacher. one lady had never said anything ot me before except how cute she thought my husband was! hope that helps.
on 5th sundays we have "music sundays" and i have maybe 5 minutes to preach. i think i want to somehow leave people with a sense of the awe of God. not sure at all how...
blessings and peace to all, rachel
to SueCan: if you would be willing to post an e-mail address, I could send you a copy of "The Voice from the Mop Bucket," though with some trepidation about copywrite infringement. Norman
"Off-Topic" (?)
Norman,
Thank you! I have the same trepidations, however I wonder if there isn't some exception when only part of a document is being copied -- sort of like when you photocopy a page or two out of a textbook at the university library and that isn't considered infringement.
In any case, your email would be much appreciated. The address is pivany@baynet.net
Blessings, SueCan
08/25/99 06:34:00
Like many who preach, this passage has always held a certain mysterious awe for me. The fear/reverence with which one experiences the presence of God in one's life is always wrought with questions and with questioning of one's own faith and sanity.
I too recall the days/months/even years of wrestling with the call of God upon my own life, and why it seemed that God wanted me to respond to in service and sacrifice. Though steeped in the Christian faith, and in church service/ministry all my life, I still doubted and found excuses--not unlike Moses found, to circumvent full-time ministry.
Not trusting my own perceived call, I turned to elders/adults who knew me best to dialogue about this "call" and to finally come to the point where I could "say no" no longer. There has not been a doubt since that step of faith, that stepping toward God--with or without sandles, is fulfilling, challenging, frustrating, rewarding, not unlike the experiences which Moses endured.
After 15 years as full-time clergy, I am looking forward to another 12 to 15 years, where I still question, encourage, challenge, and prayerfully seek to be present in people's lives to help them experience this same God and the call/claim which has on their lives.
There is oppression, pain, wandering, brokenness, and a need for HOPE, which only God can give--but discerning whether it is God who is "calling" our name is not a science--but can be affirmed within a loving community of faithful people who have walked beside/before/even behind us, to encourage, pray and support us on an awesome journey of being God's mouthpiece and servant.
All of God's people need an encounter with the "Living God", at a burning bush, in a chapel, at a campsite, or in one's own prayer time, and most people fear. The fear is within us, not from without, or from the Loving Creator who calls us into being. WE can turn away, refuse to hear the "voice of God" and listen to our fears, which continue to paralyze us, or take off our sandles, humble ourselves before God, and "question" God all we want--but to live in peace with ourselves and with God, our Maker, we must follow, kicking and screaming, if necessary. God Is and will be.
Musings--DF in KS
Hi! New to the list thought I'd add my two cents. Moses isn't doing anything reflective or worshipful when God gets his attention. He's watching the sheep and basically gets distracted by this bush. Luckily he takes the time to check it out but what if he hadn't? So many of my people are waiting for that "burning bush" experience to occur before they do anything that they're completely unaware of the little things God is already doing to get there attention. Found this quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; And only he who sees take off his shoes, The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."
Marg
In talking with an Old Testament prof recently, he shared with me the fact that because of the heat and the dryness of the Sinai Penusula, bushes and scrub brush are always catching on fire. A lot like what happens in California. His question to me was, "How many times had God been trying to get someone's attention, but they saw the burning bush as just another fire?" Where I am going with the sermon is asking how many times we miss the holy because we just see life as "ordinary" or usual? Don in Charleston, SC
Hi everyone,
Thinking about our vocation and calling as Christians. This calling from the burning bush is not just for Moses, not just for us clergy types. It is for all who follow Christ.
Our search for meaning: When we go to work in the morning, are we simply making money to put food on the table? Or are we bringing in the kingdom of God? "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
It is appropriate that we're doing a child baptism on Sunday. I can talk about how our vocation and calling begins with baptism, when God claims us and makes a covenant with us. As the child grows, her calling will also grow and make itself known.
Larry cny
To SueCan and others, I am intrigued by the sounds of Max Lucado' story (The Voice from the Mop Bucket) but I have never heard of it and cannot locate a copy. The two religious bookstores in my city (Toronto) do not carry it. Could someone please tell it in their own words on the net. I would really appreciate it as I am hoping to put together Burning bush Voice type stories. Thnaks, Nina in the North
Nina in the North,
I'm a little nervous about not doing justice to Lucado's telling of the story with my "Reader's Digest" condensed version, but here goes....
It is the story of Hank, who cleans the floors in an executive office every night. He is meticulous and always follows the rules. He broke the rules once, and it won't happen again. His story is the story of dreams derailed, life plans changed by circumstances.
Hank made a mistake, a grave error. Back when he was an executive himself, highly trained and successful, he was leaving his building and saw a mugger beating up on an innocent man. He lost it and killed the attacker. When word got out, he ran and had been hiding from the law ever since.
It was like a career change for Hank. But he knew that the important thing is this -- CHANGE OF DIRECTION IN LIFE IS NOT TRAGIC. LACK OF PASSION IN LIFE IS TRAGIC.
Then one night, he heard a voice calling him "Henry, Henry". No one had called him Henry since the incident that changed his life. The voice called him again, and Hank knew he was in God's presence. He moved toward the red hot bucket (the water is not boiling despite the heat), and the voice tells him to remove his shoes, as he is on "holy tile".
Then the story-teller comments on the unlikelihood of the story and asks, is it any more unlikely than a bush that is not consumed by its flames? Then the Moses story is retold with emphasis on the idea that despite Moses' age (80), God was finished with him yet. In fact, Moses wasn't ready when he was 40 and head-strong to lead his people. He needed to learn about the desert, and about himself. Now, he's ready.
So, the message is that God isn't finished with us yet either. We may think we have "peaked", but God may have other plans, and any number of ways of letting us know, even a voice coming from a mop bucket.
I hope that sums it up allright,
SueCan
My favorite part of this story, is the part that does not happen, God does not have to say to Moses "Do not be afraid." Moses is not afraid of God. He hids his face because he does not want to look at God. That he is afraid to do, but he is not afraid of God. My answer to those who wonder why God took so long to free the Hebrews is maybe he was waiting for them to reach bottom. You can not help anyone who does not want to be helped. It appears that the Hebrew people still had not reached bottom, or else they would not have started complaining from the minute Moses led them to freedom.They would have trusted God and Moses, but instead they did nothing but complain, just as we do today. Instead of thanking God for what we have, we do nothing but complain because the Joneses next store have a newer car than we do, or they have a pool and we do not. Never mind that they have payments to go with them but they have something we do not.
Just my thoughts and maybe nothing to it. As for my call, well I can say that it took a long time for me to make it. I was called at 16 and never started until I was 52. Maybe I like Moses needed seasoning. Don't know, but I do know when the time was right things fell into place. I worked in the Postal Service and they offered the only early option in 30 years, when I was ready and I just qualitifed. God knows how to talk to us, most of us just do not listen. We are too busy.
Pastor Belle/ MR in NY
I particularly like what Don in Charleston had to offer about failing to find God in the ordinary. But I wonder......It seems to me that what we see or hear from the burning bush may well depend on what we bring with us. Surely Moses himself was deeply aware of the plight of the Hebrew people in Egypt....I strongly suspect he could not really get all of his previous life out of his mind. Interestingly, there is no suggestion that God made the bush burn and not be consumed.....but only that God could speak to Moses from this "ordinary yet extraordinary event." Many of the tragedies in our lives draw us up short...make us re-examine ourselves, etc. and the "spin" we place on our interpretation of those events may well depend on what we bring with us in terms of all of those experiences in our own lives that have molded us and shaped us into who and what we are.
I frankly don't see how anyone can avoid preaching on this story from Exodus this week. It is one of the most powerful in the Bible and certainly a Biblical masterpiece of story telling. Thanks for all your help. Rev. Bob
Thanks for all the great thoughts this week! I love that Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote. Can anyone tell me what poem it's from? Thanks - Margaret in CT
I plan to use this story in conjunction with the other passages -- focusing in on the attitude of humility. In times past I had missed the point that ole Moses had to go through his own "wilderness" experience and gain some maturity before he could really be used by God. This is significant for my congregation, most of whom are in mid to late 70's! Moses was 80 when he finally got to the burning bush. I plan to say that the Romans passage cannot be achieved without the same characteristic of "humility" -- ie taking off one's shoes before others -- and Jesus' invitation to "take up the cross" is likewise an act of humility. RevKK
Thanks once again for the wonderful quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning and the story from Max Lucado. I have to say that I see more and more Canadians plugging in all the time. I don't always get a chance to check in but everytime it has been a great journey.
Back a year or so ago I wrote to say I was on the eve of my first sermon to be preached in church as a student of Word and Sacrament Ministry. This time I write to say that this week I got my first call to a church as a Word and Sacrament Minister. It is too exciting not to share and I have to say that this site has been a blessing to my thoughts as I work at exegesis. Thank you so much.
As I have been working in church I really have been amazed at all the people waiting to happen upon their own burning bush, I have alway stressed idea of God's blessings in the ordinary moments of life, ie the joy of children's laughter. I really like the idea that God may have waited to chose Moses until he was older for the same reasons he chose Sarah to have Isaac in her old age. Not only for the ordinary realities maybe but because they had always been faithful, their faith had always been there and they had up and downs in life but through it all their faith in God was still there and of course, God was there for also through all of life.
And the idea that God is not finished with us yet is just wonderful also. I known an elderly lady for several years now. She is a fantastic woman. Closing in on 85 years old she turned to me in a quiet moment not too long ago and said, you know, Julia, God never stops with us, teaching us. I realized the other night that God was not white. God was all colours and no colours all at once. The revelation to her was astounding. She had always thought of God as white and the look in her face was infectious. The spark in her speech was really catching also. She said that each person she had met since had looked different to her, she truly "saw" ( and that was her word) a glimpse of God in each one of them.
She had changed with that idea, and it changed her ways, her thoughts, her reactions to others.
I know I am rambling a little but it I think does have something to do with some of the ideas being tossed around.God is not ever finished with us and I am so glad of that.
JJ in Ontario
for Margaret in CT and others - the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem is called Aurora Leigh - a truly lengthy piece which the Inviting Word curriculum led me to. Robert Frost also wrote a poem about this passage called "Sitting By a Bush in Broad Sunlight" but it is too long to quote here. I found the text on the internet and it's worth the search. Marg in Ontario
Can anyone help me with a reference that I think comes from the Talmud. Something about it taking God 40 days to pursuade Moses to return to Egypt, while it only took 6 day to create the earth.
Am I remembering this correctly?
Moravian in NC
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Hi, New to the dialogue . . . want to reply to Marg (8/26/99). You are right on the money! Too many times we wait for some gigantice sign that God is at work in our midst. I serve a tiny rural congregation that has been waiting 200 years for their burning bush. My "job" in recent months has been to wake them up to all the "everyday" moments that they miss far too often. Thank you for your insight and your Browning quote. Is not the whole message of discipleship and servanthood that God uses ordinary people in ordinary places to accomplish extraordinary things . . . for God's sake? Blessings. I thank you all for your sharing. RevMom from Maine
Hi to all! I am a fairly faithful reader and this is my first time to submit a thought. In regard to Moses and the burning bush. My favorite Old Testament professor challenged us with this thought: "How may bushes did God burn up before he finally found someone who would turn aside?" How often is God trying to get our attention and we don't tturn aside and listen.
Blessings, Tom in Mesa.
The Frost poem is at http://redfrog.norconnect.no/~poems/poems/01440.html
God bless you all tomorrow, Larry cny
The reference I was looking for is in a book by H. Steven Shoemaker: "The Midrash says it took God seven days to persuade Moses. Six days to create the world, seven days to convince a man!"
Moravian in NC
I know it's late, but I sure don't follow the discussion about Moses being 80!! He has a father-in-law alive, and when he actually begins to go to Egypt he has a wife and a son (or sons) 4:19. Deborah from Canada
Deborah from Canada: At the time of his death Moses was 120 (Deut 34:7). That was after the 40 year Exodus Trek, which means when the trek began Mosaes was 80. There is no clear delineation of the time between Moses' call and the first Passover. I would allow about two years. That still would put Moses at 78, somewhat different from the picture we get from "The Prince of Egypt." Does this help? R.J. in ND
Good news for Charlton Heston...He can also star in the remake!
Moravian in NC