Daily Prayer

Moses and the Burning Bush

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.5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.6 I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Ex 3:1-6 (NLT)

Dreams were the subject of yesterday’s post, and Moses must have thought he was having the grand-daddy of all dreams: a burning bush that could not be consumed (and presumably a fire that did not burn to the touch). And if that wasn’t something that would cause someone to really wakeup and be atuned to everything that was going on, there was the voice from the bush; the very voice of God: “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.6 I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” 

Wow. That’s the kind of dream that I long to have, or see or hear. Pretty clear, at least to the reader so long removed from the event. Moses, on the other hand, was probably feeling quite groggy; slapping himself to wake up out of this unbelievable dream, and to see the light of day. Which is, of course, exactly what he did see: the true light of light. No dream. Just the pure brightness of the Living God, which was as close as he was going to be allowed to get. No seeing the face of God. Just this mysterious dream-like encounter with the “I am who I am.”

That would probably be enough for me. It would be all I could handle, as I walked away smacking my face and cleaning out my ears.

Lord, as I begin this new year, may my life be more profoundly drawn to you. May I see you in the midst of my daily routines and journey with you ever closer to my side. Let me hear your voice, speaking to my life, and even in my dreams. But maybe not quite as dramatic as Moses' encounter with you.

Amen.

Rev. Michael Kirchhoff