Exodus 3: 1-10 NIV: “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 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.”
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.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.””
Growing through Leadership Concept 1: Be Available
Moses had been raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in a life of privilege, and after killing an Egyptian that had beaten a Hebrew, fled to Midian to avoid Pharaoh’s wrath. He changed his name and built a life there, marrying and becoming a shepherd.
While Moses was away from Egypt, Pharaoh died and the “Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” (Exodus 2:23 NIV).
Although Moses had no way of knowing, God’s plan was for him to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
God used the burning bush to get Moses’ attention and called to him. “Here I am” said Moses.
Of course I have to ask, what is God using in my life to get my attention? What is he using in your life? Have you said “here I am”?
Pray
“God, thank You for this morning’s breath. Thank You for Your provision in my life. Thank You for having a plan for my life. Please open my eyes to Your presence. Please open my ears to hear You calling. If I’ve ignored the burning bush You’ve put in my life, help me to say “here I am”. If I’ve yet to see it, please reveal it to me. In Jesus name, amen.”
