In the Bible, we find various accounts of people’s encounters with God. These stories reveal truths that impact our own life with God, with others, and with our very self. In other words, these extraordinary meetings between God and people are more than historical realities. They can serve as a means of assisting us in our experiencing God in a way where we truly know Him and can make Him known to others. One such encounter is between a man named Moses and God. For four hundred years, the descendants of Abraham lived in Egypt. We could venture deep into the weeds to discuss why the Lord chose to have His chosen people live in Egypt for such a long period of time and to do so, in part, as slaves. However, it will need to suffice to say that although God certainly could have chosen a different way or a different time frame for bringing them out of Egypt to the Promised Land, He chose a particular way to bring glory to Himself and for the benefit of each and every one of us. Part of this plan was calling Moses.
Moses was the great leader and deliverer of the Law through whom God used to bring about His plan of liberating the descendants of Abraham from slavery in Egypt, constituting them a nation for His service, and delivering them within reach of the promised land. God’s calling of Moses was a fascinating encounter where God revealed Himself through a burning bush. We read:
Exodus 3:2–5 (ESV)
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in flames of fire from within a bush. This is not a visionary or inner experience. What happened there cannot be explained on any naturalistic basis. This was a genuine theophany – a visible appearance of God to humans. As we read through the account (Exodus 3:1-10), we discover that God knows Moses intimately. Moses might have felt alone, but God knew him his entire life.
Another lesson we learn is that God is holy. God’s holiness is His defining characteristic. God’s holiness speaks of His goodness, power, and otherness. God’s holiness is unique, all-powerful, and radiating from Him. God warns Moses not to come closer because God’s holiness is so powerful that He must be treated with respect. But, we also learn in Scripture that His holiness is a gift that is able to heal our broken and impure world (see: Ezekiel 47). God also reveals His identity to Moses as well as His compassionate heart and desire to see His people redeemed. Lastly, God calls Moses to be part of the answer by “bringing God’s people…out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10).
Moses’ experience with God is truly dynamic, but it is recorded in Scripture for more than merely providing a historical account, it reveals much about our own encounter with God. God also knows each and every one of us (see: John 10:14). We also experience God’s holiness, but due to the work of Christ, those who have received Him as Lord and Savior are accepted by God as holy – as holy as Jesus (see: 1 Corinthians 1:30 & 5:21). Even further, God’s holiness resides in every Christ follower empowering us to spread the holiness of God to the entire world. God has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ, and we experience Him as we study God’s Word and through the work of His Spirit in and through our lives as a result of His compassionate ministry of redeeming us (see: Galatians 5:1 & Psalm 130:7). Like Moses God also calls us and empowers us to be a part of His work of spreading His love and message to our homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, region, and the world (see: Acts 1:8).
Moses had an amazing encounter with God, but so to have we. Imagine what it would look like to truly allow our encounter with God to lead us to partner with Him in our gatherings and scatterings as His church for His glory. God speaks to us words of love and deliverance and mission. But, there is a crucial question that turns all of this from mere knowledge to life-changing action. How will you respond?
It is my honor to serve Christ with each of you. Let’s encourage one another to partner with God as His church to share His love and message with the world around us. Let’s give our all to the God who knows us, has revealed Himself to us, has compassionately redeemed us and made us holy, as well as, calls us to live on mission with Him. Soli Deo Glory (Glory to God Alone)!