July 17 : Burning but Not Consumed

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"And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." – Exodus 3:2 (KJV)

 


Sharon Campbell- Danvers,
Shepherdess, CIC,
Kings SDA church

 

Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, in the quiet backside of the desert when he came upon a most unusual sight. A bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed by the flames. This was not an ordinary moment. It was a divine encounter. A holy interruption.

When Moses saw the bush burning but not consumed, he recognised that this was a miracle. He turned aside to observe this great sight, and it was in that very moment, when he turned aside, that God called to him.

"Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here am I."

God was calling Moses to a life of service, a life that would carry the weight of leadership, confrontation, and divine purpose. But before the assignment came the revelation: "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." This was not a new or unfamiliar god. It was the God of the covenant. The God of the promise.

The bush burned, but it was not consumed. From the beginning of Moses' journey, God was demonstrating a vital truth. When you walk with Me, you may go through fire, but you shall not be destroyed. You may be burned by the trials of life, but you shall not be consumed. My presence will sustain you. My purpose is to preserve you.

When Moses heard the voice of God, he hid his face. He was afraid to look upon God. I imagine that he bowed his head in awe and fear. Yet even with our heads bowed, our eyes and our hearts can remain fixed upon the Lord.

Then God said something significant:

"Take off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

Sometimes, in the presence of God, when His anointing rests upon us, there are things in our lives that we must remove in order to fully experience His miracle and transformation. Whether it is pride, fear, shame, bitterness, or distraction, there are things we must lay down in order to stand on holy ground.

My brothers and sisters, no matter what fire you may be facing in this moment,
No matter the struggle, the weight, or the pain,
Remember the bush.
You may be burning, but you shall not be consumed.

For the Lord is with you.
The ground upon which you stand, even in the wilderness, is holy ground.
And God still speaks from the fire.

Prayer

Lord, help us to hear Your voice in the fire, to turn aside and listen, and to trust that though the flames may surround us, we shall not be consumed. May we walk in reverence, ready to remove anything that hinders us from standing on holy ground. In Jesus’ name, Amen.



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