While Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep, he saw a bush that was burning, but not burning up. Moses said “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight…!” Exodus 3:2-4.
Burning but not burning up is an indication of holiness. This was a special fire, a holy fire, a fire that lit up the bush without destroying it. And when Moses saw this holy thing, he investigated. God confirmed the holy nature of the moment and the place when He told Moses to take off his shoes, “for the place on which you stand is holy ground” Exodus 3:5.
Question: Why was the bush on fire in the first place? Did the bush continue to burn? Years later, for example, when Moses brought the Israelites back to the mountain—was the burning bush still burning?
Moses seems to have climbed this mountain seven more times, yet the bush is not mentioned again. The Bible does not indicate the bush remained on fire there like some eternal flame. It seems God created this burning bush specifically to arouse the curiosity of Moses. God could have simply spoken to Moses. But God wanted to see whether Moses would be curious about this holy sign.
“When the Eternal One saw Moses approach the burning bush TO OBSERVE IT MORE CLOSELY, He called out to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” Exodus 3:4.
Has God ever aroused your curiosity? Have you ever stopped what you were doing (as Moses stopped driving the sheep) to observe something more closely? Do you allow things to make you curious? Do you cultivate curiosity?
Think about this:
If Moses were a dad driving his family on a cross-country road trip, he would stop the car to observe a burning bush.
Would you?
God, ARREST OUR ATTENTION. Give us curiosity about Your activity in the world around us. Make us fascinated with all things holy. Never let us miss the amazing things of God in our quest to complete a to-do list or reach an equally arbitrary destination.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 