Divine Encounters: Moses and the Burning Bush

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Interruptions in Daily Life

God often seeks us out in the midst of our daily routines, just as He did with Moses. We must remain alert and attentive to these divine invitations, recognizing that God is always looking to connect with us. This awareness can transform our ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters with the Divine. Moses was simply tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock when he noticed a bush that was on fire but not consumed. Intrigued, Moses approached the bush, and God called out to him, initiating a transformative encounter. This teaches us that God can and does reach out to us in the midst of our everyday activities. [13:11]

Exodus 3:2-4 (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. And Moses said, 'I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.' 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.'"

Reflection: Think about your daily routine. How can you become more attentive to the ways God might be trying to get your attention in the midst of your everyday activities?

Day 2: Reverence in God's Presence

When God instructed Moses to remove his sandals, it was a powerful reminder of the sacredness of God's presence. We must approach God with reverence and humility, acknowledging the holiness that surrounds us when we enter His presence. This reverence should shape our worship and daily interactions with God. The act of removing sandals signifies respect and recognition of the holy ground we stand on when we are in God's presence. This teaches us to approach God with a heart full of reverence and humility, understanding the sacredness of our encounters with Him. [14:58]

Exodus 3:5 (ESV): "Then he said, 'Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you show more reverence and humility in your daily interactions with God? How can this shape your worship and prayer life?

Day 3: Clarity of Purpose Through Divine Encounters

In encounters with God, we often receive clarity about our calling and purpose. Moses was commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, a task that required faith and obedience. Similarly, God calls us to step out in faith, empowering us to fulfill His purposes in our lives. These divine encounters are not just moments of awe but moments of commissioning, where God reveals His plans and purposes for us. This teaches us to be open to God's calling and to step out in faith and obedience, trusting that He will empower us to fulfill His purposes. [16:33]

Exodus 3:10 (ESV): "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you begin to take steps of obedience in that area today?

Day 4: Transformation Through Encounter

Encounters with God are transformative, changing us from who we are into who God intends us to be. Moses transitioned from a shepherd to a leader of a nation. Our encounters with God can similarly lead to significant personal and spiritual growth, enabling us to live out our faith more fully. These transformative moments shape our identity and purpose, aligning us more closely with God's will for our lives. This teaches us to embrace the changes that come from our encounters with God, trusting that He is molding us into the people He wants us to be. [21:36]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant encounter with God. How did it transform you, and how can you continue to grow from that experience?

Day 5: The Power of Community and Support

Moses needed the support of his brother Aaron and the community around him to fulfill his calling. Likewise, we need the support of our faith community to navigate our spiritual journeys. Sharing our stories of encountering God can encourage and strengthen one another, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared purpose. This teaches us the importance of community and the role it plays in our spiritual growth and fulfillment of God's purposes. We are not meant to walk this journey alone but to support and uplift one another. [26:16]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you actively support and encourage someone in your faith community this week? What steps can you take to share your own stories of encountering God to build up others?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the story of Moses' encounter with God through the burning bush in Exodus 3. This marks the beginning of our new teaching series, "Encountering God: Deepening Our Discipleship Through Biblical Encounters." We explored how Moses, at around 80 years old, was simply tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock when he noticed a bush that was on fire but not consumed. Intrigued, Moses approached the bush, and God called out to him, initiating a transformative encounter. God revealed His holiness by instructing Moses to remove his sandals, as he was standing on holy ground. This encounter was not just a moment of awe but a commissioning, as God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage into a land flowing with milk and honey.

We reflected on the significance of God initiating encounters with us, often in the midst of our ordinary lives. God’s holiness was emphasized, reminding us to approach Him with reverence and humility. We also discussed how God reveals His purposes for us through these encounters, calling us to step out in faith and obedience. The story of Moses teaches us that God knows us by name, calls us into sacred spaces, and transforms us for His purposes. We are encouraged to create space in our lives to hear God’s voice, recognize His presence in our daily routines, and share our stories of encountering God to build a community of faith.

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Key Takeaways

1. God Initiates Encounters: God often seeks us out in the midst of our daily routines, just as He did with Moses. We must remain alert and attentive to these divine invitations, recognizing that God is always looking to connect with us. This awareness can transform our ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters with the Divine. [13:11]
2. Reverence for God's Holiness: When God instructed Moses to remove his sandals, it was a powerful reminder of the sacredness of God's presence. We must approach God with reverence and humility, acknowledging the holiness that surrounds us when we enter His presence. This reverence should shape our worship and daily interactions with God. [14:58]
3. God Reveals His Purpose: In encounters with God, we often receive clarity about our calling and purpose. Moses was commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, a task that required faith and obedience. Similarly, God calls us to step out in faith, empowering us to fulfill His purposes in our lives. [16:33]
4. Transformation Through Encounter: Encounters with God are transformative, changing us from who we are into who God intends us to be. Moses transitioned from a shepherd to a leader of a nation. Our encounters with God can similarly lead to significant personal and spiritual growth, enabling us to live out our faith more fully. [21:36]
5. Community and Support: Moses needed the support of his brother Aaron and the community around him to fulfill his calling. Likewise, we need the support of our faith community to navigate our spiritual journeys. Sharing our stories of encountering God can encourage and strengthen one another, fostering a deeper sense of community and shared purpose. [26:16]
### [26:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:35] - Introduction to New Bible Study Initiative
[02:49] - Overview of Church Activities
[04:21] - Introduction to New Teaching Series
[05:24] - Discipleship Dimensions
[06:28] - Reading from Exodus 3
[08:04] - Recap of Moses' Story
[09:48] - Significance of Moses' Encounter
[11:36] - God Initiates Encounters
[13:11] - Attentiveness to God's Invitations
[14:58] - Reverence for God's Holiness
[16:33] - God's Purpose for Moses
[18:21] - God Calls Us by Name
[20:16] - Sacred Spaces
[21:36] - Transformation Through Encounter
[24:28] - Stewarding Encounters
[26:16] - Community and Support
[29:31] - Creating Space for God
[31:09] - Recognizing Divine Moments
[32:15] - Purpose and Calling
[33:56] - Sharing Stories of Encounter
[35:20] - Prayer and Communion Preparation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 3:1-10 —
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Observation Questions

What was Moses doing when he first noticed the burning bush? ([06:28])
How did God reveal His holiness to Moses during their encounter? ([13:11])
What specific task did God assign to Moses during this encounter? ([16:33])
How did Moses react when God called out to him from the burning bush? ([06:28])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to initiate the encounter with Moses while he was tending the flock? ([11:36])
What does the instruction to remove sandals signify about the nature of God's presence? ([13:11])
How does Moses' transformation from a shepherd to a leader reflect the potential for personal change through divine encounters? ([21:36])
In what ways does the support of a faith community, as seen with Moses and Aaron, play a role in fulfilling God's purposes? ([26:16])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routines. How can you become more attentive to potential divine encounters in your ordinary moments? ([13:11])
What are some practical ways you can approach God with more reverence and humility in your daily life? ([14:58])
Have you ever felt a clear sense of calling or purpose from God? How did you respond, and what steps did you take to follow through? ([16:33])
Think about a time when you experienced a significant personal or spiritual transformation. What triggered that change, and how did it impact your life? ([21:36])
How can you create sacred spaces in your life where you can intentionally seek and encounter God? ([20:16])
Identify a person or group in your faith community who has supported you in your spiritual journey. How can you express gratitude and continue to build that supportive relationship? ([26:16])
Share a story of a recent encounter with God. How did it encourage or challenge you, and how can sharing this story with others build a sense of community and shared purpose? ([33:56])

Sermon Clips

1. "God initiates it. Moses was not looking for God. Moses was not seeking God. He was just tendering his flock. He was just doing his day-to-day work. He was just doing his job at the time. And yet God initiates it. I think we have to be aware that God is always seeking to initiate an encounter with you. He is looking for you. So much of sometimes of our thinking is that we are seeking God. We're trying to find God. We're trying to seek God. And there's some truth in that, but actually at the same time, he is seeking out us." [12:36] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God reveals his holiness in this encounter. What does God instruct Moses to do? He says to him, take off your sandals because the ground is holy ground. And it wasn't holy ground because of the ground. It was holy ground because of the presence of God. presence of God was within the burning bush. And I guess one of the things that I become so familiar with is the access that I have now into the presence of God." [13:11] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God calls you by name. In this encounter, God says, Moses, Moses. And God knows your name. God knows who you are. And He knows your context, your circumstances. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly of your life. And yet He calls you by name because of His great love for you. And so I want you to be aware that, again, in this busy life filled with distractions and noise, how do you carve out moments when you can hear God call your name, call you?" [18:21] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "There's something here very sacred about this encounter. I don't know whether you think of that word much, the sacred and the secular are two words that sometimes we hear and we talk about in life. But I think that God wants to remind us that, again, let's not approach God out of a casual, familiar way. We can be so casual, particularly those of us who have been Christians for a long time. Just casual about our relationship with God. We take Him for granted. God calls us, I think, into a sacred space." [20:16] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "This sort of present moment, this encounter moment, is a place where God transforms Moses, begins to change him from being a shepherd to a leader. And I guess, this is one of the dynamics of encounter, encountering God, that we look for is that there's that whole promise within the message of Christianity, the message of the Bible for change. And I don't know if you think about your life on the 1st of September 2024, you think, actually, there's some things in my life I'd really like to change." [21:36] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We have these images. I don't know what your image of Moses is. This amazing man of God. And yes, he is one of these heroes, isn't he? Of the faith, of our faith, of not just Christian faith, actually. He's a hero of the Jewish faith, obviously. But he wasn't perfect. He stuttered in his speech at times. He struggled to become the man that God had called him to be, and he needed people around him. And that's so reassuring, I think. And we don't need to do this alone." [26:16] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Recognise that God the Divine is in your daily life. Look out for those moments which is unexpected. Moses was not expecting God to turn up in a burning bush. And he went out to do some shepherding that day. So, look out this week, this month. Those moments. Those moments. Those moments. Those moments. God might just surprise you in a conversation or in a song, in nature. Pay attention to circumstances that could become divine appointments for you to encounter God. Or for you to open the door to someone else to encounter God." [30:12] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Most of life is just turning up. Being present. Coming to the next moment. That's why gathering with other Christians is so important, actually. We just need to do it. We just need to turn up. But in those encounters, I think God does want to deepen our sense of purpose, our sense of calling. To use us, to inspire us, to equip us, to enable us to be His people in the environment that you are placed in." [32:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Share your stories. Because our stories will create a cycle of encouragement and growing of faith as a church. That's why stories are so important. telling the stories. So in conclusion, let me pray for us this week. We're going to ask God to reveal himself the week ahead, in the month ahead. To give us the courage to respond. And as we embark on this journey over the next few months about encountering him, we're going to look at different characters, biblical characters and their encounter and how that can inspire and encourage us." [33:56] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "When Moses saw the burning bush, he was curious. He didn't know what it was when he first saw it. He didn't know. He didn't know what it was going to become. This encounter with God in this bush. So he went over to have a look. Maybe this week there's moments where you need to stop and go over and have a look. What is God grabbing your attention with? What is the kairos moment in your week where God is drawing your attention and breaking it to your life?" [31:09] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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