Sometimes Christians describe their faith as being “on fire.” Such an expression is appropriate considering the ways fire is evoked in the Bible. Some of which would appropriately describe faith.
One particular instance occurs in the Book of Exodus where Moses, prior to becoming a renowned figure throughout the ages, encountered a burning bush. Found in Exodus 3 and 4, the story of Moses and the burning bush is no ordinary brush fire. This bush was set aflame by a divine presence. On that sacred ground is where Moses encountered the great I AM. The moment marked a change in his life where God would ignite his faith, giving him a charge to lead others with a God-ordained purpose.
There are lessons for the modern-day believer in this Bible story. Lessons that are important for any believer throughout history. We will examine 3 important lessons from Moses and the burning bush after taking time to understand the context of this event.
Story Summary of Moses and the Burning Bush
We read about Moses and the burning bush in the third chapter of Exodus. The passage opens with a description of Moses serving as a shepherd for his father-in-law’s sheep. Moses takes the flock of sheep into the wilderness and comes upon a mountain called Horeb. While fulfilling an ordinary duty, something very unusual happens - a bush catches fire. Just one bush. Moses is no stranger to fire, but a single bush burning likely strikes him as odd. Even stranger, Moses quickly observes that the fire was not destroying the greenery.
“So Moses thought, ‘I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?” (Exodus 3:3).
The fire is initially depicted as being started by an angel of the Lord. Once Moses takes notice of the bush, however, that is when God starts speaking to Moses. When God speaks to his servant, He calls Moses by name. In fact, he calls Moses’ name twice! To this personal acknowledgment, Moses responds in kind. He readily presents himself to God.
From there God starts giving Moses instructions. First, he has to remove his sandals because the ground is sacred, possibly because of what just occurred with the burning bush. God then speaks to Moses and tells him that He is the God of his forefathers. He also calls them by name: Abraham, Issac, Jacob. God says that He knows His children are suffering in Egypt. He hears their prayers and He has an answer.
Surprising to Moses, he is God’s answer. He is the solution to the Israelites’ suffering. God gives Moses a command--go to Egypt and make a case before Pharaoh so that the Jews would be freed.
He tells Moses that this venture will not be easy. Pharoah will resist Moses. Even without that information, Moses is not confident in God’s plan. He is not confident in himself.
So Moses rebuttals, expressing this self-doubt. In reply, God does not relent in His command. Instead, God affirms what He has called Moses to do. The conversation plays out as though a father is talking to a son. The son has doubts, but the father reassures him that he is capable. In this situation, God reaffirms Moses that He will be with him during this journey (Exodus 3:12). However touching and relatable the dialogue is, Moses is having this conversation with God through the burning bush. This is a divine miracle, a supernatural occurrence,
As God chose to speak to Moses through the bush instead of through standard prayer, we can be sure there is symbolism and important lessons to take away from this story.
God's Nearness is Evident in the Burning Bush
God drew near to Moses in this story. He made His presence known. Moses accepted that nearness when He in turn presented himself to God. This story, like others in the Bible, speaks to God’s omnipresence. He finds us where we are even when we don’t know where to find Him, or if we don’t even think to look.
What’s more, God manifested Himself through a burning bush. God chooses how He will make His presence known. For something this monumental, Moses’ mission, God appeared as something extraordinary. We know that God’s presence with Moses is not limited to the bush when He tells Moses that He will be with him during the journey. Moses is not alone, and in fact, never was alone. From the moment he woke up to the moment he journeyed to Horeb and saw the burning bush, God was with him.
For Reflection: Today, we can apply this knowledge to our own lives by recognizing that God is present with us daily and throughout the day. He sees us wake and sees us sleep. God also has the power to make His presence known in a not-so-subtle way. Moses encountered a burning bush, but we may find ourselves faced with unusual circumstances, or maybe spot a billboard sign, or a cloud, something that informs us God is present and He is calling us.
God’s Calling and Command to Moses
God gave a command to Moses, a divine calling or vocation. Despite Moses doubting himself, God’s command stood. And as the rest of Exodus reveals, God kept His word. He always does. What Moses’ story informs readers is that God gives His children purpose. That purpose may be something we feel unqualified to do, but God has a plan. God’s plan for Moses was not thought about on the spot. God gave him a task that was already calculated.
Whatever Moses did not have, God would supply him and he did. The same is true for Christians today. Sometimes we will be called to do things we do not feel excited about or capable of fulfilling. Yet, if God knows we can, why can’t we believe in ourselves? The implication is that God doesn’t know as much as us if we doubt His calling on our lives.
For Reflection: What we should do instead is humble ourselves before God, and ask Him how to best go about fulfilling our vocation.
Moses Learned Trust over Doubt
Moses was not perfect in his relationship with God. In this chapter he doubted, then again later in Exodus he doubted. This later doubt led to his brother Aaron serving as the voice for the people. Moses acted as interpreter. Though he was imperfect in his faith, Moses did display a great deal of trust in God. He was given a major task that likely seemed impossible by human standards. He was supposed to free a whole nation from slavery.
Whatever doubts crossed his mind during the adventure, Moses maintained his relationship with God. He acted on the Lord’s behalf even when met with opposition.
For Reflection: We must work to showcase this same level of trust and God, and ideally, more trust than Moses accomplished. If we see that God can do great things through one man, what can He do through us? Moses doubted because he looked at the circumstances. When he managed to trust, he looked to God. We should do the same.
Our Burning Bush - Questions for Reflection
Is God speaking to you today, through a person, a sermon, a message on a billboard? Is God calling out to you by name to serve Him? Moses shows us that God can reach us wherever we are and whomever He chooses. God can perform the simplistic and the extraordinary, on His own and through His people.
Moses ran into obstacles, some that were predetermined, others He created himself through his doubts. In all instances, God helped him. God never left his side.
We should feel encouraged to know that God will support us in whatever He has called us to accomplish. Just as He calls us by name, He gives us each a vocation. We simply have to answer Him and say, “Here I am, Lord."
A Prayer as You Read the Story of Moses and the Burning Bush
Dear Lord, Oh, how we love you. We love how you have already gone before us. We love that you have already paved the way. We love that when we step out in obedience, that you promise to continue to be with us, and you will then go behind us. Thank you for the promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. That even if we don’t know every detail as to why you are telling us to go do something, that we can cling close to you staying attached to you, knowing you’ll direct us.
Please continue to direct us one next step at a time. Father, please give us peace and courage to do the next thing. Thank you for choosing us to partner with you to fulfill your purpose here “on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) We pray that in moments of weakness and doubt, that we would run closer to you and not run away. That when the future looks dim and looks nothing like what we expected that we know that you are the author of the story and know how this story ends.
You are a faithful God. Remind us that you are in control as we choose to trust you this day. Thank you for being sovereign over my life. We praise you, Father.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen - Alisha Headley
Further Reading
Moses and the Burning Bush - Bible Story
Photo Credit: GettyImages/vlastas
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.