Burning Bush - Part 3: Meaning for Us

So here we are, finally at the third and final post in our series on the burning bush. Today's is definitely my favorite section: what the burning bush miracle and surrounding story means to us. We've already talked about what it meant to Moses, and if you haven't read that post yet, you should. I'll draw a lot of parallels between what the miracle meant to Moses & what it means to us. Let's dive right in.

In Exodus 3, we see God call Moses to play a major role in God's plan. We've already talked about Moses' past as an orphaned murderer, etc, so if we see God using Moses in such a major way after all he has done, we should easily accept that God wants to call us too. God not only calls Moses, but throughout their relationship, God reveals himself to Moses in ways that he could have never imagined. I think that part of the story is very important because it shows that God doesn't just want to use us to do His bidding, but He truly wants to know us.

The next portion of the burning bush story has God telling Moses to remove his shoes because he is on holy ground. We have already discussed, in the previous post, that it was God's presence there that made the ground holy. With that in mind, think about what we know about God's presence in the lives of Christians: when we accept Christ, God's Spirit dwells in us. Knowing that we have God's presence with us at all times, everywhere a believer walks is holy ground.

God tells Moses that he has seen His people's troubles; Moses didn't have to tell God about it, He already knew about their troubles, felt compassion on them, and had a plan to rescue them which he begins to carry out through Moses. Our situation as Christians is no different: we experience troubles, God sees them and feels compassion for us, and He has a plan to rescue us. The only difference is that our rescue is permanent and eternal; God has offered His son for our rescue. In Christ, we are saved.

As the story of the burning bush draws to a close, God sends Moses out and says that He will be with Moses just as God promises to be with us through His spirit that dwells in us. And in the same way as Moses: God's spirit is not only in us to comfort us, but to provide the power that is not optional, the power that is required for anyone who desires to accomplish the plan that God has for them,

Refuge

What is refuge?

Often, during times of military and political conflict, you will hear news anchors use the term 'refugees' for people who flee their homeland to seek safety somewhere else.

Perhaps the only other place that I hear the word refuge used much is the Bible, mostly Psalms.

Merriam-Webster defines refuge as "shelter or protection from danger or distress; a place that provides shelter or protection; something to which one has recourse in difficulty".

For Christians, especially those experiencing "difficulty", our refuge is God and his character. Psalm 119:114 says "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word." In fact, we have so much refuge in God that Psalm 59:16 says that "I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."

So, as Christians, we don't just have a little refuge in God. We have so much that not only will we be able to trust him with our burdens, but we should be able to sing of his strength and love. Imagine the faith it must take to find that much refuge from your troubles, and ask God for that faith now.