Today is Bonfire Night in the UK, and Dave chose this morning to speak on Exodus 3:1-6 on another kind of bonfire – the burning bush which God used to call Moses. This was a fire like no other since the bush kept on burning without burning up. Why would God choose such an unusual sign?
Moses had been working in a dead-end job for many years and seemed to be going nowhere; his earlier promise as a leader seems to have faded and he was probably bored and apathetic by this time, forever condemned to obscurity by his rash act of murder many years previously. God used an unusual sign to get his attention. At first, it was probably only curiosity which prompted Moses to go to the bush, but then God spoke to him from the bush, calling him to his life work: to lead the people out of Egypt. God would liberate His people in His way; Moses would not be in control.
God did not have to rescue Israel, but because of His faithfulness and love, He chose to respond to their cries for help. (Ex 3:7-8) We can never ‘earn’ salvation, no matter how good we are, but God’s mercy and love are His motivation (see Titus 3:5). We can rely on God’s faithfulness and promises (see Num 23:19, 2 Cor 1:20). Our salvation depends on God’s faithful promises, not on how we feel.
God was about to do great things for Israel, but the purpose behind His freeing them was to make them holy. Moses finds that this burning bush has become holy ground. Similarly, God desires to make us holy (see 1 Pet 1:16) – set apart for God, able to shine for God because His Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. Heb 12:29 reminds us that our God is a consuming fire. That fire is in us, to consume all that is not of God and to light us up so others can see God’s light.