God Encounters 1 – Moses and the Burning Bush

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-4:17 (Click Link)

Moses had been a prince in Egypt, but because of his concern for his Hebrew people, he killed an Egyptian slave master for beating one of the Hebrew slaves. Moses fled to the Sinai wilderness and connected with Jethro, a priest of the local religion. Moses married one of Jethro’s daughters and became a desert shepherd. Years passed, and God decided to rescue his Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery. So this happened…

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. (Exodus 3:1-4 NLT) The story continues through the rest of Exodus 3 and 4. Please take the time to read it! (Click link).

Moses had a God Encounter that day that changed not only his life, but the history of the world! The vibrations from it are still echoing down to us today.

Moses cared about people. He tried to do something about his concern in his own timing and in his own strength. It blew up on him, and he lost his position of privilege and his power, became a fugitive, and settled for a very ordinary life. There’s nothing wrong with an ordinary life, except that in Moses’ case, it wasn’t what God had in mind.

When the time was right, God used some very dramatic experiences to get Moses’ head right about how God could work in him and through him to change the world. Here’s a couple of things about a God Encounter: 1) It’s at God’s initiative. 2) You have to have a little curiosity (“I must go over and see this!”) 3) It’s OK to express your doubts and concerns, but once God answers them, it’s time to obey!

Don’t miss tomorrow’s GraceNotes – God Encounters Part 2 – My Story

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for initiating God Encounters when they’re necessary. I’m glad Moses wasn’t too far gone to respond. Sometimes life gets so ordinary it seems as if a God Encounter is our only hope for getting unstuck. Please initiate a God Encounter for any of my friends who really needs one today! In Jesus’ Name!