51_Encounter with God

Exodus 3:1-11 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy 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 upon God.

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Moses’ life is a story of unexpected turns and intense personal transformation. It has three distinct phases. For the first forty years, he lived in Egypt as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, trained in Egypt’s wisdom and having ready access to its wealth and power. Despite his privileged position, he retained his personal identity as a Hebrew. At the age of forty, Moses began to visit the oppressed children of Israel. When he saw one of them beaten by an Egyptian overseer, his blood boiled. In his zeal, he killed the Egyptian. The killing was discovered, and he was in danger. Forced to flee from Egypt for his life, Moses spent the next forty years as a shepherd in Midian. This was a season of obscurity and preparation. He was no longer a prince but a humble shepherd, unknown to the rest of the world, alone yet safe.

During these apparently useless years, Moses continued to be trained for his calling. God often works in hidden ways, shaping His chosen ones in silence before calling them to the forefront. This period culminated in an encounter with God that revealed his destiny.

In the wilderness of Horeb, God’s presence appeared to Moses in a burning bush. Moses saw the bush aflame, yet miraculously preserved. Drawn closer by this marvel, he heard God’s voice as he approached. The voice instructed him to remove his sandals—a sign of reverence for God’s presence.

The bush was more than a mere miracle; it showed God’s glory dwelling in and shining through a mortal creature without destroying it. God intended to reveal His glory through the man Moses without consuming him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reflects the same truth, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

All that was necessary was reverence and humility in God’s presence, an attitude of holy fear and obedience. God uses the humble and weak to demonstrate His strength. He chooses the lowly, so that they may boast only in Him. Just as no merit can qualify a person to carry God’s purpose, no weakness can disqualify them either. Through grace, God calls and equips each of us for His work.

Moses accepted God’s call without pride or presumption. The humble receive God’s will like children. Peter, in 1 Peter 5:5, instructs believers to “clothe yourselves with humility, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Isaiah 66:2 says, “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.” God seeks humble hearts willing to submit to His guidance.

God introduced Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This testified to his unchanging faithfulness. Through 400 years, God had not forgotten His promises. As Exodus 2:24-25 tells us, “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” God had seen Israel’s suffering, heard their cry, and was prepared to act.

Though Israel was weary and despairing, God’s timing was perfect. The children of Israel were unable to recognize their impending redemption. Yet God revealed to Moses that the time had come, when he would deliver His people and lead them to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” God neither abandons nor forgets his people, even if things look hopeless.

In his youth, Moses recognized that God had called him to deliver his people from Egypt. But when he tried to deliver his people through his own person, in his own way, the results were disastrous. The outcome was his flight to Midian, where he spent the next 40 years. Perhaps he had resigned himself to thinking that he had been mistaken. But now Moses was called to take up the very task he had once failed to accomplish. God’s message was clear: the time was right, and Moses would be successful because led and empowered by God.

This episode is of fundamental importance in Moses’ life. The first thing that happened was knowing God. The encounter began with Moses’ question, “Who are You?” Knowing God is the foundation of obedience. God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, anchoring Moses to the continuity of His being. Centuries later, Saul of Tarsus asked the same question on the road to Damascus. He came to understand that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had come to earth in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Today, it is our joy and privilege to know the true God through Jesus Christ, who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3). Knowing God through Jesus Christ is the essence of eternal life.

The second thing that happened was the understanding of God’s plan. God revealed to Moses that Israel’s deliverance was at hand, and confirmed his sense that it would be under his leadership. God often reveals His purposes for his people and for the world to his prophets and servants. Understanding God’s plan gives us a sense of direction and purpose.

Through Christ, God has revealed His purpose and plan to make us holy and give us an inheritance in his kingdom.

The third thing was to recognize his role in God’s plan. After revealing His plan, God told Moses, “I will send you to Pharaoh.” Knowing God’s purposes is only half of the equation; understanding and accepting our role in His plan is essential. Like Moses, we are not merely informed but also commissioned. God’s calling often involves stepping ahead into new roles, relying on His presence.

For Paul too, his first question was, “Who are You, Lord?” followed by, “What shall I do, Lord?” Paul’s entire life was devoted to fulfilling God’s purpose to bring the Gentiles to himself as part of his people. It echoed the call of Moses to lead God’s people toward freedom. Paul poured himself out in obedience, fulfilling God’s grand vision for him and the church.

God has given us promises that are sufficient for life and godliness. Each of us has been given gifts and callings within God’s plan. The humble tremble at God’s Word, being willing to believe and obey. They receive his grace and walk in his ways. Let us walk humbly with God. As we discover our purpose, let us commit wholeheartedly to stirring up our gifts, and serving God with fervency of spirit.

The burning bush was not just a miracle. It is an invitation to join with God in unison with his purposes. We, too, can be like the burning bush, reflecting God’s presence and purpose so that others may see it and be drawn closer. We are empowered by the same grace that carried Moses through his mission. Let us meet God afresh each day. As we humble ourselves before Him, He will guide, equip, and sustain us for every good work in his name. God bless.