THE BURNING TREE EXPERIENCE – Pt 4

Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 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. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”

God had a plan for Moses and I think Moses had a desire early in his life to free his countrymen, but didn’t know the detour he was going to have to make before ever realizing his dream.

That’s the way it is in most of our lives. In fact, if we knew as a young person all the detours that would come in our lives, we would be frightened of the future. But God knew what He’s doing and He did in the life of Moses also. The distance between Moses having to flee Egypt and the “burning bush” experience did not take God by surprise. God was in control. He was still on the throne and He was preparing Moses for this very time in his life.

In earlier CHALLENgING CONCEPTS we have noted the SCRIPTURAL and SOVEREIGN call of God. This week we will notice another part of God’s call upon a person’s life.

III. OUR CALL IS A SELECTIVE ONE

I have heard it said that in every truth of the Word of God there are two sides, as you would have in a coin. The truth we pointed out last week is no exception.

Every truth of Scripture is like a coin – it has two sides. Let me show you what I’m talking about:

It comes down to decisions a person makes or does not make. The Bible is very, very clear on this matter. We read in Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” Then Paul goes on and speaks to the issue of good sowing and bad sowing in verse 8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus talks about the way to destruction and life. Notice what He said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

There are many other examples to the two sides of the coin, such as building on sand or solid rock. In Salvation, God calls but the sinner has to respond to His call. There are other examples but I think I have made my point.

The lesson in our text for these series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS is no exception:

(1) Our Calling Is A SOVEREIGN Decision. I won’t spend much time here because last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS was given over to this point. But let me say this: God chooses to make this call, the burning bush experience, to whom and when He wills. Now there is another side of this truth.

(2) Our Calling Is A SERVANT Decision. God had made His choice and that put the ball in Moses’ court. So what did he do?

Notice verse 3 where we read, “And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” You don’t see that God demanded him to turn aside. It doesn’t even say that God called Moses. God put the bush near the path of Moses and allowed him to make the choice.

I believe there are times in our life that God wants to speak personally to us, but we fail to recognize it. We should never think lightly of handling the Word of God, whether in hearing, delivering it, or in the study of it. God’s Word should have an important role in the life of the child of God.

Every time I hear the Word of God, it speaks to me. It doesn’t matter whether I read it, study it, or hear it preached, God’s Word speaks to my heart. That’s the way it should be.

God’s Word is near the path of the child of God and he needs to approach it to find out what God has to say. I love Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God’s Word gives enlightenment and guidance, among many other things.

Moses was under the sovereign call of God for his life. God had something special for him to do. The mission was one of importance to the people God had chosen as His own and Moses was going to play a very special role in their life.

God spoke audibly to Moses. He does not speak to us in the same manner but He does speak. Are you always looking for the voice of God. Are you listening for Him to speak to you? Read God’s Word; study it; meditate upon it. Place yourself under the teaching and preaching of His precious Word. He wants to speak to you.

In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will examine the SINGLENESS of God’s call on a person’s life.

That’s my view; how about you?