“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flames of the fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.” (Exodus 3:2-3 NIV)
It’s interesting how both of my devotional readings from entirely different sources dealt with this idea of divine transformation. Christ promises us newness, doesn’t He? He graciously recreates from the inside out: the end result being Christlikeness. Theologians call this theosis or deification: a transformative process whose aim is likeliness to or union with God. (Yes to both, please!) God’s presence in us is much like Moses’ burning bush: alight and all-encompassing, but not consuming or destructive.
In the inner Christian life, darkness gives way to the light. We cooperate with the burning of process of sanctification, allowing holiness to permeate our flesh. We soak up the light like water in a sponge. And we are transformed by the brightness. Set ablaze for heaven. Just as the burning bush got Moses’ attention, so might we with our neighbors.
There’s a quote that has long been attributed to John Wesley, but in recent years it’s authorship has come under dispute. “Set a man on fire and people will come to watch him burn.” Whomever spoke it or wrote it first, it is a true principle. A life on fire demands attention. So often in our society, people burn down for all the wrong reasons: sin devastates their lives on screens while the world watches. But a burning bush that doesn’t burn out? That is something altogether different, something worth watching.
Yes, those are pallets and that flame blew about fifty feet sideways.
A fire like this demands our attention.
We examine the Moses encounter with God and find fuel for our personal burn. Moses first had to notice the bush: God was present in his ordinary circumstance. He was drawn in, wowed, humbled and reverent. He learned blind obedience in the blaze of God’s glory: Moses got up and heeded instruction. And then, he repeated the process, he came back for more. Moses was a man who got in God’s presence, worshiped and responded in obedience over and over again. He got in God’s presence until God’s presence got in him and transformed him entirely.
The burning bush became a prophetic picture of his own recreation.
Obedience won’t necessarily make us holy. So often we do the right thing with a wrong attitude. But obedience will keep us coming back for more of God’s presence. And ongoing nearness to God is what ultimately transforms our lives. The holy fire of His presence burns off our sinfulness and recreates us back into His image.
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of covenant in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” (Exodus 34:29 NIV)
In short; Moses gives the steps for setting our life on fire:
– watch for God’s presence
– worship when you find Him
– listen and obey
– come back for more
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experience transformation
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:34-26 NIV)
Lord, thank You for meeting us amidst mundane days. Thank You for the blaze of Your glory, getting our attention but graciously not burning us up. May we see You and respond with worship. May we follow through on Your instructions and come back for more; being made like You in the process. May our transformation bring You even more glory. Amen.