Preparing for my morning devotions and prayer time, I went to the family room to get my Bible and heard the Holy Spirit speak to me to read Exodus 3. I knew He had something special for me. After reading the first five verses, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “My people miss My leadings because they fail to look at the burning bushes I place in their lives to get their attention.”

These natural events are divine setups.

Exodus 3:1-5. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (2) And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. (3) Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” (4) So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (5) Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

While I meditated about this, my thoughts turned to how often He had placed some “burning bushes” in my life that got my attention, which He used to lead me into events, ministry, or divine connections for previously unknown purposes. Maybe you can identify some examples of this in your own life.

But if not, be encouraged, and let’s learn how God utilizes natural events or supernatural things to get our attention so He can lead us down the path set before us. It could be to another place or experience in Him.

That Bush Is Not Being Consumed

First, we see that the Lord appeared to Moses in a flaming fire from the midst of a bush, but He did not reveal Himself to Moses at that point. The Lord was there in the fire. Moses saw the fire but was unaware that the Lord was in the fire or anywhere near the fire. Moses did not know or acknowledge the Lord’s presence at this time, but the Lord had gained Moses’ attention by what appeared to be a natural occurrence. The bush is surrounded by fire, but it is not being consumed. That fact piqued his curiosity to the point he had to turn and investigate.

I believe we are no different. The Lord puts “burning bushes” in our lives to get our attention, as He did with Moses. He does not reveal Himself to us but watches how we react to the sign first. Will we stop and look at the burning bush? Will we turn our attention away from everyday life to consider a particular or even peculiar event to see what it is about?

How often do we walk away from a “burning bush” where the Lord is standing because we don’t recognize it for what it is? Maybe we are too busy, so we don’t give it our attention, and even if we see it, we find it easy to discard.

But Moses looks at the burning bush and notices the bush is not being consumed. This has his attention, and he even calls it a great sight. I can picture Moses standing and looking at this burning bush, wondering how this could be happening as the feelings of curiosity enlarge in his heart. His attention moves away from caring for the flock of sheep and turns to the burning bush that is not being consumed.

But remember, up to this point, the Lord has not revealed Himself to Moses. The Lord has gained Moses’ attention but has not yet revealed Himself to Moses. Finally, Moses turns his attention away from his sheep business to investigate this great sight. Now it gets exciting!

From the Natural to the Supernatural –  God Is Revealed

Moses is seeking to understand a natural event that will lead him directly into God’s supernatural presence, where God majestically reveals Himself and his plan to Moses to set His people free. God still uses natural events to get our attention and to lead us all the time. If we stay in the Word and walk in the Spirit, we will become more aware of these burning bushes in our lives, have more encounters with the Lord, and have more opportunities to walk in His blessing and be a blessing to others.

Now, we see God’s response to Moses’ decision to look at this incredible sight. There was no revelation of God’s presence to Moses until he turned to investigate the naturally occurring event. Exodus 3:4: So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

After, and only after Moses turned to see the burning bush, did God reveal Himself from within the fire. Then and only then did God call Moses by name. This is a crucial point. We need to be open to looking at the divine intersects that God places in our paths of everyday living, and sometimes, they are subtle and sometimes unusual. Be open and be curious. Slow down and ask the Lord to reveal Himself in the situation. You will be amazed at how often He sets you up for a special event, experience, or opportunity.

Moses immediately responds, “Here I am.” God tells Moses, “Do not draw near this place,” and directs him to take off his sandals, for the place where he stood was holy ground. It was holy ground because of the Lord’s manifested presence and Glory in the fire. Taking off his sandals was a way of honoring God.

Follow The Progression

Moses is taking care of the family business on the mountain, where he has led the flock of sheep owned by his father-in-law. It’s another day of business as usual. This is just another typical day when, suddenly, Moses sees a burning bush that is not being consumed by the fire, and he is totally unaware of God’s presence.

• He had no idea that God was in the fire.
• He had no idea that God was standing there watching him.
• He had no idea how his decision to turn and investigate this site would impact life as he knew it.
• He had no idea that God was about to reveal Himself and manifest His glory.
• He had no idea that the very God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was about to call Moses into the ministry to deliver His people from their bondage in Egypt, as foretold to Abram centuries earlier.

He was unaware that a simple investigation of a bush would change his life for eternity and impact thousands of generations.

I wonder. How often does the Lord stand near us or in our churches, desiring to speak to and reveal Himself to us, only to be ignored by religious traditions, worldliness in the church, and concern for ending the service on time?

How many times does He stand near us at the store, or wherever we may go, desiring to have us witness or pray with a person, and we walk away because we are too busy to see the burning bush in front of us, totally unaware that the Lord was standing next to us?

God has plans for our lives and often sets them up well in advance. The key for us is the same as it was for Moses. Take time to look at the burning bushes God places in your life. Consider all of the little things God does to get your attention so He can reveal Himself and the plans He has for you.

Right now, ask God to help you be sensitive to His leading and make you keenly aware of the natural events He does to reveal Himself to you, call you, do great work in your life, or be a blessing to others. You will discover God’s presence, and in His presence is the fullness of joy!

Choose to yield your whole heart to Jesus so you can recognize the “burning bush” He places in your life. You will find yourself in a place to hear His Voice, receive His guidance, and all else He has for you.

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, help me recognize the natural events in my life where I will find your presence and directions like Moses at the burning bush. I want to know your presence and walk in your plan for my life. Help me to understand the covenant promises so I may walk in them so others may see you in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.