Turn Aside
Hello Bride of Christ,
One of my passions as a child and as an adult, unashamedly, I will admit is playing video games. Not just any video game though. I enjoy adventure games which tell a story and consist of various quest and missions. These missions are comprised of riddles and puzzles which require some thought and learned experience to solve. Often embedded throughout the levels of the game are "easter eggs," hidden treasures only unlocked through secret passages or control combinations. Video games for me, is all the excitement which comes from the seeking and finding!
Now as a mom I do not play as often, but actually watch my sons play. Let me tell you watching them play is difficult.... especially if it is a game I have played previously. Not because I want to play, but because they rush through the levels so fast they miss out on the tiny little nuggets of discovery along the way. In their speed to the finish line they miss coins (typically needed later on in the game), the secret paths intended to give you a different experience, or the special features to help you perform special moves needed when the levels of the game become more difficult.
God often reminds us in His word the importance of slowing down "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), and being observant "Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43). Moses is a perfect illustration of these scriptures as he spent time in a foreign land tending to his father in-law's sheep, not playing video games, but living daily life.
In The Ordinary
In the book of Exodus chapter 3 we find Moses doing his daily routine he had grown accustom to; the scripture reads, "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. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of the fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush does not burn.' 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 (Moses) said, 'Here I am.'" (Exodus 3:1-4)
Moses, like us, was living his ordinary day. He was busy tending his father in-law's flock. You may liken this to your commute to work or driving your children (flock) to school in the morning. Moses took them to the same mountain he typically took the flock. He took them to a mountain which constantly had bushes set a blaze because of its positioning and how the sun beamed on it, resulting in its name Horeb, glowing/ heat. However, notice Moses was not rushing through his day. Let me tell you leading a flock to the back of the desert would take time and patience. Sheep get distracted very easily! Also notice Moses did not grow numb to his surroundings. Although seeing a burning bush was typical for this area he was in when he saw a flame of fire from the midst of a bush he looked!
The Call
When Moses looked he was able to behold and notice the bush was on fire but not consumed. This resulted in him deciding to turn aside! Notice Moses did not feel pressured to stick to his routine or hurry back to complete his next daily task. He decided vocally "'I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush does not burn.' His decision was noticed by the Lord for scripture says, "So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look" then God spoke! Then God called!
Bride of Christ, Moses could have easily missed the Angel of Lord! Moses could have continued his day and not even notice God had appeared to him! Are we turning aside in our daily lives? God is known as Emmanuel, God with us, so we have to expect He is appearing to us on a daily basis. But how often do we look and behold Him? How often are we consumed with the busyness of life, event after event, task after task!
Turn aside, Bride of Christ, for your Lord is appearing before you and is waiting for you to notice. Once He sees you notice He will call out to you. And may we be ready like Moses, and respond "Here I am."
