Moses gave God more trouble than the bush. Thinking back to last week, what did the bush teach us? We need to be submitted to God. The bush was the medium God used. Both Moses and the bush were created by God. The bush was easily used, but Moses gave God trouble. We think we can’t do what God asks, but we need to remember what God told Moses.
Exodus 3: 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large….
God’s presence made the place holy ground. God’s presence in our lives enhances us for our benefit as well as the benefit of others. Moses turned aside because God changed the bush. When God came into it, it was on fire. We too are reminded that God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Moses as well as the God of Peter and Paul. He’s saying to us “I’m still the same God now that I have always been” even in this new day and time in which we live.
From this point through 4:17, God spoke to Moses and Moses spoke back. It took longer than God wanted. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh…. God said come now…and I will send. Moses didn’t see God. He saw a bush on fire. Lost people won’t see God visibly, but they will see him in us. People see what they hear. He speaks to us the same way. Come on. Let’s go!
The Lord takes care of the elements of earth, all the forms of life. God spoke to the flies and frogs later in Egypt. The vegetative part of life communicates. Animals communicate. God knows their language. The bush agreed with God. Moses drew things out coming back on God five times. He kept making excuses. All the while Moses did this, the bush kept burning on. It kept speaking to Moses. It was a testimony. The bush didn’t flicker on and off. It didn’t burn up. It didn’t lose its life. It was enhanced by the Spirit of God and shows what can happen if we’re willing to be used. Even Moses’ staff joined in with the bush and changed into a serpent, then back again, under God’s possession. My, was Moses outnumbered!
Moses kept saying “I can’t.” The bush kept saying “I can.” All of nature obeys God and is not hindered in any way. Moses left Egypt because he was afraid. He had killed a man. Going back meant he had to face that fear. God intended to go with him. He doesn’t set us aflame, put us in jeopardy, and leave us to burn up. He didn’t leave the bush in ashes; he won’t leave us.
In 4:10 Moses said he couldn’t do it because he wasn’t eloquent. He was slow of speech. Moses was hearing God but not seeing him clearly. The bush was not destroyed by God’s use. It was the testimony. If we say God is our God, let’s trust him and let him use us. We won’t get burnt.
Moses said send someone else. God didn’t set a thousand bushes on fire; he only needed to set one. Others can’t do what you’re called to do. God told him to take Aaron with him; however, when they did get to Egypt, who did most of the talking? It was Moses. God gave him the words!
God had to counteract every excuse Moses made and all the while the bush continued to burn. If a bush in the desert could tell you what it’s afraid of, it would say fire. God used the very thing that would have consumed it. Fire would normally destroy it, but not the fire of God. He was big enough to take care of the bush; he was big enough to take care of Moses. He’s big enough to take care of us.
In Deuteronomy 3:13-16 Moses was in his old age and giving a farewell address to Joseph. And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. Moses called God the God of the bush. He is the God of the earth; all creation is in the hand of God. Moses hair was still white, and his old face still a-shine, as he spoke to his people. The same glowing blessing that was on that bush can be on us if we let it.
In Mark 12 the people tried to get Jesus to answer an impossible question. If a man’s wife dies and he marries again and this happens seven times, which one will be the man’s wife in heaven? Jesus said do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? Jesus reminded them of the bush,with a voice that reflected the Glory of God, by an authority like none had ever heard before.
In Acts 7 Stephen rehearsed the history of Israel to the Jews. He spoke about the flame of fire in a bush. He told them this was the same God whose Son they had crucified. He was raised from the dead. They stoned him. How is Stephen’s face described? It shined like angelic fire because he was used of God. He knelt down and prayed asking that the sin of his death not be laid to their charge. Jesus stood and welcomed him to heaven.
What about us? I’ve often said I’d like to be like Moses. After studying this scripture, I’d rather be like the bush. Let’s not concern ourselves with being a namesake. Let’s be something for God.
How is this bush known today? It’s not just a bush; it’s the burning bush. Be known as one who is on fire for God. Let’s allow him to change us. Let’s allow him to use us like he did the bush. Ready to get ignited?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 