Our Burning Bushes

The book of Exodus tells a story many have heard, the account of Moses who had left Egypt and now lived in the land of Midian, which is in the “Sinai Peninsula.”

Moses was a shepherd and one day noticed a burning bush. It says in Exodus 3:2-4, “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.” So he looked, and behold the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

Then Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight, why does the bush not burn?” And then verse 4 says, “So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him.”

This makes me think of how many times God has brought something into my life- like a burning bush- which was to get my attention so He could speak to me, to direct my life, and yet I didn’t even recognize this. I didn’t turn to see what was trying to be said.

 Every one of us have been, and still will be, given those burning bush opportunities where God is trying to get our attention- trying to tell us something- but we are too busy, or we go about handling life on our own.

 God knows us, has made us for a reason, and it’s not just an accident that we are here. He has purposes for us to serve Him, so He will put things in our path to get our attention. The key words in verse 3 were where Moses turned aside to see. That’s it: he turned to see.

Are we spiritually attentive to turn and see what God is trying to show us when He puts burning bush situations near us? If we turn to see, God can lead us to greater things; but if we just blow it off and go on our way, we will miss these wonderful opportunities to find what’s best for us.

God has a great love and concern for our future. Pay attention; He may have something this very day He wants you to turn aside and notice.