God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am’. Exodus 3:4

Moses and the burning bush. It is a story I have seen many times on television. I have heard it from the pulpit, a story about the freeing of God’s chosen people, through a man who answered His calling. But, before the plagues and the parting of the sea, was the burning bush. 

In Exodus we see a learning moment for our own lives. To begin, God catches the attention of Moses through a burning bush that is on fire- but not burning up, “So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight- why the bush does not burn up”(3:3). God is trying to catch our attention as He reaches out to us to answer a calling, a task. Maybe He catches our attention through the tearful eyes of a woman in aisle three of the supermarket, or with the homeless man that slowly walks by our family on the street. Is it the billboard of a local crisis center asking for help in the community? Is it a couple in our pew, with a crying baby and tired eyes? How often is God trying to catch our attention, and we miss it or worse, ignore it? Moses does not pass up on the attention grabber that God sends him, he moves closer to the bush and God.

Then, the really beautiful thing happens, once Moses moves closer to God, “God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am”(3:4). This verse, God speaking, Moses’ response, it all brings me to tears. Imagine replacing Moses with your name. How often do we miss God’s attempt at grabbing our attention? Then we miss His voice calling our name. After all of that- we miss the calling of something that would have been amazing, wonderful, and freeing- like that of the Israelites.

Sister or brother in Christ, it is my prayer that we start looking for the burning bushes in our lives. That we move toward them; hear Him call to us, and respond, “Here I am.” Offer to the tearful woman to pray with her. Give the homeless man a pair of sock and lunch. Tell the young couple, with the crying baby, that you’ve been there; could you bring them supper tonight? How might our communities, nation, and world begin to change if we would just stop and acknowledge what He places in our paths? I yearn to see it, the impact that would occur if we would just draw close to Him, as He is getting our attention.

My prayer for us: Lord, thank you for allowing us to answer Your callings, and to know that you are there to help us- just as you did for Moses.Forgive us for the times we overlook and ignore You. Help us to see the burning bushes you place in our lives; the ways you try to grab our attention. May we move closer to Your task and You. When we do that, and You call out to us, may we reply, “Here I am.” What beauty and impact in three simple words. Amen.