God had a grand plan and it included using Moses to rescue and lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
God needed to include Moses in his plan.
God had not spoken directly to Moses until the period of slavery needed to end. Then he did. But first of all, God had to get Moses’ attention. He used a burning bush to do so.
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” Exodus 3:2-3.
A burning bush might not get our attention, but God uses other ways to notice him. It might be something extraordinary. It might be something hard or painful. It might be something exciting and adventurous. Whatever it is, the point is that God— holy and mighty—desires us to be aware of him and what he is doing. He wants our attention, not just so we do something for him, but because he loves us.
God got Moses’ attention and then God spoke.
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:2-4
I learned that in ancient cultures, repeating a person’s name was a term of endearment. God showed his affection and love towards Moses by repeating his name. And Moses would have understood he was being addressed by someone who loved him.
We mustn’t forget that God speaks to us in the same way. When he calls us by name, it is because of his great love for us.
Then God gently began to teach Moses about himself, his nature and presence. “Don’t come too close,” God said, “because I am holy.” We learn the same about God— he is distinctive, different from us, and has purity to his nature. He is preeminent.
“Take off your shoes,” God told Moses. He was to show respect for God’s holiness. We should learn the same—not to be afraid of God but to be in awe of him. Sometimes we have to work at having the right kind of fear.
“Where I am present is holy ground” God said to Moses. And so we learn that God’s presence permeates the things and the people he touches.
This lesson was only the beginning of God teaching Moses, and the people, about his holiness and presence.
There is, however, a difference between then and now, the old covenant that would govern Moses and the Israelites and the new covenant that we live with now. That difference is Jesus.
We can draw near to God, not keep our distance.
Let us draw near. Hebrews 10:22
We can walk right into the holy place he occupies with his presence.
We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19
It is not just the ground that becomes holy, but we become holy.
We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10.
Be amazed today what Jesus has done for you.
Pray
