Exodus 3:1-15
3:1 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he
led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he
looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.
3:3 Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why
the bush is not burned up."
3:4 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."
3:5 Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the
place on which you are standing is holy ground."
3:6 He said further, "I am the God of your 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 at
God.
3:7 Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt;
I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings,
3:8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out
of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country
of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites.
3:9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians
oppress them.
3:10 So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of
Egypt."
3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the
Israelites out of Egypt?"
3:12 He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I
who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this
mountain."
3:13 But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God
of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I
say to them?"
3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you
shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
3:15 God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the
God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has
sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.
I'm musing about "missing the call of God" in the ordinary and the whole "burning bush" experience. It seems to me that the text is quite clear about Moses' reaction to the burning bush he encounters. He calls it a "strange sight" (NIV). The sight of the burning bush is only the beginning of Moses' experience. Next he hears God's voice and experiences being on "holy ground", meaning that he is himself made holy by God, at least for the duration of the experience, or he would not have been able to remain.
The idea that burning bushes in the Sinai desert weren't that uncommon, as a previous contributor suggested, leads us to consider how powerful and affecting this experience would have been for Moses, even initially. Moses obtains a transformed vision of fire and one can only imagine how any burning bush, or indeed any fire, he saw from then until the end of his life would have a completely changed significance for him.
We understand this implicitly in this story and it is often reflected in our description of events in our own lives which we catagorize as "burning bush" experiences. This type of description is most often reserved for the experiences which change us, galvanize us, redirect us or illuminate us. The general understanding is that we come away from these types of experiences pointed in a new direction in our lives. A direction that, for Christians at least, is ordained by God.
Where we struggle seems to be in searching for a "burning bush" experience. Even more in our North American milleu, infused with post-modern sensibilities, people seem searching for a transformational experience. But could there be a "burning bush" event available for all to experience? I think so.
In the Revised Common Lectionary readings for September 1st, the Exodous passage we're discussing is set against Matthew 16:21-28 wherein Peter gainsays Jesus when He predicts His approaching crucifixion, earning perhaps the sharpest rebuke from Jesus experienced by anyone. (As an aside, I see Jesus rebuking Peter with ferocious love. Truly, if Jesus had not cared He would have not responded so strongly. The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.) This takes place on the road from Galilee to Jerusalem. On this road, at every point where Roman garrisons were stationed next to towns there would have been crosses standing by the sides of the road bearing mute and terrible testimony to the consequences that awaited any who would defy the occupying government.
Jesus, Peter, James, John, all of the disciples, every Jew, every Gentile and every Roman knew what a cross was. It was an instrument of torture, death, oppression, dispair, fear, sorrow, pain and loss. No person in 1st century Palestine or even the entire Roman Empire could look upon a cross without seeing the images of executions. And if one was a member of an occupied people, very likely he or she may have known and even witnessed the execution of someone they had known upon one of these crosses.
It's hard for us to really understand how people who lived under the oppresion of the cross as a means of public execution reacted to the sight or mention of it, but if we can gain such an understanding we open ourselves up to a "burning bush" experience as we consider how God has transformed this instrument of death and dispair into the ultimate symbol of life and hope.
If we truly, honestly, deeply consider the Cross, the Way Jesus chose, we find ourselves face to face with a "burning bush" that is as profound as what Moses experienced, even more so.
We find ourselves in the very presence of God, as Moses was, we find ourselves perched on the very brink of the Holy and we see how God makes us Holy through Christ so we can enter into this sacred ground. We see transformation on a level so profound that we cannot but have Hope that we , too may be transformed. We experience a God so deeply concerned and filled with compassion for His people, His creation, that He will reserve nothing in His pursuit of reconciling us to Himself.
Others before me in this dialogue have commented on the fact that "burning bush" experiences are where you find them, if you are looking for them. They are also available for every one. God made certain of that by making the ultimate "burning bush" event accessible to all. A "burning bush" we all can share.
BJM
Edmonton, AB
Canada
I love this passage, I have since I was a kid, I remember the Ten Commandment movie with Charlton Heston and the special effects there. Then Ted Turner's Moses that Ben Kingsley Portrayed...Think I really like Ben Kingley's Moses better! But, I digress; WoW awesome sign, defineately know when God Speaks here. I think in our world toadypeople search for signs...hmmm could be positive, however, could be negative...DOn't put so much emphasis in signs...when you look for them, won't see...Unexpected ones, like here in this passage...I fire that does not consume...In our temporal understanding sometimes cannot concieve that, moses had to go see the divine! Sometimes God speaks to people thay way, take an atheist-I know particularly, He is interesting to talk with-history buff, which I like history connecting with him, God using that to give me opportunity to gradually bring him along, he asks for prayer for legs and hearing, his sister cried and said who have done something no other preacher could do...I know it wasnt me- was Holy Spirit! I dont know why I did this I reach out automatically touch his ear (hard of hearing and prayed... He asked his elderly mom what was that Magic? His mom said not like touch from God, his legs and ears better some...Sometimes God has to use 'big burning bushes' to make some see...I know it's hard to understand why one sees without it and one doesn't. But, God knows! And no I am not turning into Oral Roberts, Marilyn Hickey, or Benny hinn, LOL I am TOO UNITED METHODIST!!! Lady Pastor in Ohio
I am intrigued that it will be Labor Day weekend, and this text is about Moses encountering God at his (Moses') workplace. Maybe we can all be aware of God visiting us where we "work" - the office, store, garage, truck, car, home, school. God's call is not in a compartment of our lives - it covers every and any moment, era, event, phase, etc. Maybe we should all take off our shoes where we are and look and listen - for God calls us and makes it holy ground . just starting... JIm in CT.
I am intrigued that it is Labor day weekend and here in this text God has visited Moses at work. Moses may have thought he had his career in the exciting field of sheepherding all planned out, till this day. He was coasting, not fulfilling his potential for God, and God went to him. Does God call on us - and call us - in out workplaces? In school, in the store, the shop, the car, at home? When God calls - with burning bush or some other sign, perhaps we'd best be willing to look and listen and take off our shoes, for God makes where we are holy ground - a place to answer God's call. still early in the week.,.... Jim in ct.
This story is so rich, with multiple layers of meaning and possibilities for preaching. There is the larger story of Moses' own identity. Who the heck is he, he must be wondering. Born a Hebrew, raised as an Egyptian, living among the Midianites. Then in the wilderness God names him and claims him, "I am the God of YOUR father Abraham..." It is clear now who and whose he is. Out of identity comes calling. A call to serve the God who knows the people's suffering. That's our identity and our calling too. And we don't go alone. God goes with us. We fear we're not worthy, that we don't have the gifts that others have, that we don't fit the mold of "spokesperson" or "figurehead." Moses' credentials were not that he was the most likely or qualified candidate for the job. His credentials were that was willing to stop, listen and say, "Here I am." The rest is up to God.
A Pastor in MA
Some sign God offers to prove it is I AM who sent Moses - After you do this, you'll worship me on this mountain. "God, is there another sign available?" That wouldn't fly in our empiricist, post-modern world, much less be convincing to the Hebrews, would it? But Moses goes in faith (after some argument).
But what a sign it really is. In the end, all the people come to the realization that it was indeed God who delivered - in the end, all worship at God's holy mountain.
Just early thoughts, don't know where it may lead.
RevKinOK
A couple years ago when I took a trip to Israel and Eygpt, we stopped at St. Catherines Monestary at the base of what's reguarded as Mt Horeb. There they have a bush that tradition says is the very bush that Moses saw on fire. Down below the bush, by a stone wall, someone had placed a fire extinguisher. You have to be careful where the Holy Spirit is concerned. Moses tried to extinguish the flames with his objections. We try to extinguish the flames by denying our calling as well. I'm not gifted enough. I can't make a difference. They won't listen to me. It's not really my calling. Often in the church and in our lives, we're so afraid that the fires of faith might get out of control that we focus more on saftey than to answering God's call.
Dave in Iowa
We follow the Jeremiah text, but I had to share with you something that happened last night. We had a bush in front of the church that died because of a very cold winter, and finally one of our board members was there, just finishing his work with a chain saw to cut the dead bush to the ground, when I and another board member came out from a meeting.
The first expressed some concern over the stump (or stubble, since it's only about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.) He thought maybe it should be dug out, but because there are landscaping stones around it, that would be a difficult job.
I suggested burning it, since there is very little there, and the fire would be small, unlikely to cause any damage to the brick building or the nearby landscaping.
The second board member laughed, "I don't know... A burning bush in front of the church could really get people talking!"
Michelle
There is another part of this story and that is HOW Moses perceived the bush. We can look AT a bathroom mirror and see the toothpaste splatterings, etc., ON the mirror or we can look INTO the mirror and see ourselves and what is around us reflected there. I have watched people in a mall some will look at a storefront glass and see themselves reflected and will check their hair, clothes, etc., or they will look through the glass into the store and see what is there. I will let you go from here. :-) Toni
I have always loved the story of Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush, and how Moses "turned aside" (RSV)to see this sight. I had a wonderful Old Testament professor who used to ask "how many bushes did God have to burn up before he found someone who would turn aside and listen?" Did God really intend for His people to languish in Egypt for 400 years? Or did it take that long to find someone who would "turn aside" and listen? Maybe the burning bush is there,if we will just "turn aside" and listen.
Blessings to all. Pastor Tom in Mesa, AZ
TO PASTOR TOM IN MESA:
If God can go around and set bushes on fire without
the bushes' being consumed, God can set fire to us
without our being consumed! Last summer, I stood
on the very spot where John Wesley's heart felt
"strangely warmed" [read: set on fire]. John was
not consumed by being ignited. He just burned
brighter! There is hope for all of us!
Blessings,
Oklahoma Irishman
