Intro: I love sitting around a campfire or fire pit. There is something so mesmerizing for me about a “controlled fire.” As a child growing up in Michigan, I would sit and sometimes sleep near the fire place, because the glow and warmth of it was comforting to me. Now that I live in Florida with 90 degree temperatures, I have a fireplace that puts off zero heat and I can still enjoy the glow before me! lol! When scripture portrays God as a pillar of fire, a bush of fire, a fiery furnace, fire on the mountain at Sinai, tongues of fire, or even a consuming fire it is a comfort, because fire reminds me of the glorious and holy presence of God revealed to humanity. Sin may not be safe in the fire of God, but as his daughter in Christ I am.
In our passage today, while shepherding near Sinai, Moses is drawn to a blazing fire nestled inside a bush which remarkably is not destroyed. This ground around the fire is holy and this will be the first of several times Moses encounters the revealed Word of the Lord at Sinai. With his sandals off, Moses speaks with the Angel of the Lord around the fire—I love this picture. The Lord knows Moses’ name and has a plan for his life as they chat there. Through this experience, Moses has no doubt that God is holy and powerful, requires respect, and is not of this world. God pursues Moses and makes a commitment to deliver his people from oppression and evil.
God is love and he pursue us with a passion to enjoy fellowship. Because of the redeeming work of Christ, we can boldly approach the throne of our gracious God (Heb 4:16). Today, may we turn to our Pursuer, take off the sandals that carries the residue of the world, bow in complete respect to our Creator, enter the holy presence of our loving Father, and find there is no one like the Lord!
Exodus 3:1-6 NLT Moses and the Burning Bush
1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for our fireside lesson from Moses. Please continue to pursue us, heal us, sanctify us, and reveal yourself to us as your sons and daughters. We need and want you, Lord. Be our Comforter and warm us in your glorious presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.