Scripture:
So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” Exodus 3:3
Reflection:
This familiar story from Exodus tells of an angel of the Lord appearing to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush and Moses was surprised. And yet, we read that Moses was drawn to explore the bush, despite or maybe because of, his surprise. In Moses’ exploration, he encounters God. It is in this encounter that God reveals God’s name, “I am”. It is in this encounter that Moses is called to save the Israelites from Egyptian enslavement.
I often wonder what was it that made Moses turn to see the bush and why, though he was surprised, did he approach the bush rather than run away from it? Do we often avoid looking at things that are so radically weird, the remarkable? Or, do we explore them further? Is the difference of whether we avoid or explore rooted in a stirring of the Holy Spirit within our hearts? Or, do we let fear convince us to run away? What was it that called Moses to the bush? The story from Exodus tells us that once Moses turned toward the bush and approached it, set his face toward it, God spoke to Moses. God spoke to Moses. But, it was Moses who first turned to God.
Practice:
This week remind yourself to notice the unusual; the radically weird, the remarkable. Notice your spirit prodding you to explore that which you find surprising or remarkable? You may just find an encounter with God, waiting there, for you to turn and notice it.