BUSHES AND BARE FEET
EXODUS 3:1-6
WHEN YOU FIRST THINK ABOUT IT, YOU THINK THAT THE ACCOUNT OF MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH IS A PECULAIR PASSAGE TO DEAL WITH THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE TWO THOUGH AND OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT GOD REVEALING HIMSELF TO MAN, AND IT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN IN CHURCH. IT CAN HAPPEN AT A BURNING BUSH, IN A LION-FILLED DEN, IN THE BELLY OF A GREAT FISH, OR IN A LOWLY STABLE. EACH PLACE BECOMES A HOLY PLACE WHEN GOD IS REVEALED.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE IN COMMON. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE HOLINESS OF GOD. ALL CHRISTIANS WILL HAVE SOME FORM OF BURNING BUSH EXPERIENCE IN THEIR LIVES. SOME WILL HAVE SEVERAL AS WE COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
WHEN WE CONSIDER THE BURNING BUSH EXPERIENCE, ONE MUST BE OVERWEALMED BY THE BOUNDLESS HOLINESS OF GOD. MOSES WAS TOLD TO REMOVE HIS SANDALS FOR THE VERY GROUND THAT HE WAS WALKING ON WAS HOLY.
THE REMOVING OF SANDALS WAS DONE WHEN IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE SUPERIOR, AND AS AN ACT OF SERVANTHOOD, THUS MOSES’ ACTIONS WERE DONE AS AN ACT OF REVERENCE.
IT IS HARD TO GRASP THE AWESOMENESS OF THE OCCASION. MOSES FIRST SEES THE BURNING BUSH AND COMES TO INVESTIGATE IT. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT IS THAT WE ARE NOT TOLD MUCH ABOUT THE BURNING BUSH ITSELF.
WE DON’T KNOW HOW BID IT WAS. WE DON’T KNOW OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE DAY. WE ARE TOLD THAT IT DID NOT GO OUT AS MOSES WENT TO IT, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW THE REASONS MOSES WENT TO CHECK THE BURNING BUSH OUT.
THE LAST THING HE WOULD BE EXPECTING WOULD BE A VISIT FROM GOD. IT HAD NOT HAPPENED TO HIM BEFORE IN THIS MANNER, WHY SHOULD HE EXPECT IT NOW?
PERHAPS THE SIZE OF THE BLAZE MADE MOSES WONDER IF IT WERE A WILD FIRE OUT OF CONTROL. HE MAY HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS A GROUP OF MEN GATHERED THERE. WOULD THEY TRY TO STEAL THE SHEEP? MOSES WAS AN ABLE-BODIED MAN, AFTER ALL HE KILLED AN EGYPTIAN GUARD WHICH FORCED HIS EXILE FROM EGYPT TO WHERE HE NOW WAS, AND HE KILLED HIM WITH HIS BARE HANDS.
IF THERE WERE MEN THERE, AND IF THEY WERE UP TO NO GOOD, MOSES WOULD SURELY GIVE THEM A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. THE THIEVES WOULD GAIN NO SHEEP WITHOUT FIRST GOING THROUGH HIM.
WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE BUSH HE SAW NOBODY AND SO HE MAY HAVE THEN BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE STARTED BY NATURAL MEANS. IT WOULD BE AT THIS POINT THAT MOSES MIGHT REALIZE THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING BIGGER THAN JUST A FIRE. HE WOULD NOTICE THAT IN THE TIME IT TOOK HIM TO GET TO THE FIRE, THE BUSH HADN’T BEEN CONSUMED BY THE FIRE AND GONE OUT.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE DID NOT KNOW, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT WAS PECULIAR.
GOD WILL AT TIMES DO THE SAME THING FOR US. WE MAY BE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TO AN ISSUE, OR WE MAY BE WAITING FOR GOD TO MOVE, AND WE MAY NOT SEE THE CIRCUMSTANCES FALLING INTO PLACE, WHEN SUDDENLY WE WILL SEE THE FIRE, AND HEAR OUR NAME CALLED, AND WE ARE SUMMONED INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR A HOLY ENCOUNTER.
T.T. CRABTREE STATES:
“SOMEWHERE A BUSH IS BURNING FOR EVERYONE. GOD IS CONTINUALLY INVADING HUMAN LIFE TO MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN AND TO REVEAL HIS WILL FOR THE INVARIABLE PURPOSE OF EVOKING A RESPONSE IN HUMAN HEARTS. GOD DAILY BESTRIDES THE PATHS OF PEOPLE, HE ARRANGES THEIR STARTLED ATTENTION WITH HIS PRESENCE AND SEEKS TO LEAD THEM BY HIS LONG-SUFFERING TO REPENTANCE.”
THIS PASSAGE ALLOWS US TO SEE TWO FUNDAMENTAL FACTS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION THAT IS CENTRAL TO CHRISTMAS:
1. THE REVELATION OF GOD TO HUMANITY
2. HUMANITY’S RESPONSE TO SUCH A REVELATION
POINT ONE: THE REVELATION OF GOD TO HUMANITY:
SUBPOINT ONE: GOD DOES REVEAL HIMSELF IN NATURE.
PSALM 19:1-2:
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK OF HIS HANDS. 2 DAY AFTER DAY THEY POUR FORTH SPEECH; NIGHT AFTER NIGHT THEY REVEAL KNOWLEDGE.
ROMANS 1:20: FOR SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD GOD’S INVISIBLE QUALITIES—HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, SO THAT PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY GOD HAS CREATED IN THIS WORLD. BUT LETS NOT FORGET HIS POWER AS WELL. HE CERTAINLY DISPLAYED IT HERE ON TUESDAY. THINK OF THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF SEEING AN INFANT FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE. I MARVELLED AS LESLIE AND I DROVE ALONGSIDE THE MIGHTY NIAGARA RIVER AS WE CAME CLOSE TO THE FALLS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WENT THROUGH MOSES MIND WHEN HE HEARD GOD’S VOICE. HE KNEW IT WAS GOD. HE WAS TOLD TO REMOVE HIS SANDALS FOR THE PLACE HE WAS STANDING ON WAS HOLY GROUND BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
HOW MANY OF YOU REMOVED YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE CHURCH TODAY. IS IT NOT HOLY GROUND? DID YOU COME EXPECTING A WORD FROM GOD TODAY?
I REMEMBER READING ABOUT THE FUNERAL OF STEPHEN CURTIS CHAPMAN’S DAUGHTER. SHE WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL, NO MORE THAN SIX YEARS OLD, WHEN HIS TEENAGE SON HIT HER WITH THE CAR WHILE IN THEIR DRIVEWAY. HE DIDN’T SEE HER WHILE BACKING OUT. IT WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.
AT THE FUNERAL, WHEN THE FAMILY WALKED IN TO BEGIN, EVERYONE NOTICED THAT THEY WERE BARE FEET. IT WAS A REMINDER TO FOLKS THAT ANYTHING WE DO IN THIS WORLD IS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND IS THEREFORE WORSHIP AND THE SURROUNDINGS ARE HOLY.
GOD CAN SPEAK IN A STILL SMALL VOICE.
HE CAN ALSO SPEAK IN THE MUTE TONGUE OF TRAGEDY.
OR IN THE WHISPERS OF THE LABORED BREATH OF A SICK CHILD.
OR THE JOY OF A BABY’S CRY
THE SAFE RETURN OF A LOVED ONE, WHEN YOU HEAR THE GARAGE DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE.
GOD SPEAKS TO THE WORLD AND HE HAS A MESSAGE FOR YOU TODAY. PERHAPS IT’S THE SAME ANSWER TO A QUESTION YOU ARE REPEATEDLY ASKING HIM, HOPING THAT HIS ANSWER WILL SOMEHOW CHANGE.
ONE THING IS CLEAR, GOD HAS A BURNING BUSH FOR US ALL TODAY.
SUB-POINT TWO: GOD MAY APPEAR UNEXPECTANTLY.
GOD MEETS PEOPLE IN UNEXPECTANT PLACES. WE EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE HIM AT CHURCH, BUT WE MAY MEET HIM AT THE SHOPPING MALL. WE MAY EXPECT IN TIMES OF QUIET REFLECTION, BUT WE MAY ENCOUNTER HIM IN THE NOISE OF A SPORTING EVENT.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION POSED IN JOB 11:7 IS CERTAINLY NO. GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHY.
JOB 11:7: CAN YOU FATHOM THE MYSTERIES OF GOD? CAN YOU PROBE THE LIMITS OF THE ALMIGHTY
JAMES S. STEWART STATED:
“GOD IS NOT AN OBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH ONE MAY ENQUIRE AFTER WITH THE MERE CURIOSITY OF A SPIRITUAL STAMP COLLECTOR. HE IS NEITHER AN OBJECT OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION NOR SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INSERTED IN THE TREASURE OF ONE’S KNOWLEDGE, AS ONE MOUNTS A RARE STAMP IN A SPECIAL PLACE IN AN ALBUM.”
WHO KNOWS WHERE YOUR DAMASCUS ROAD WILL BE, OR HOW MANY YOU WILL HAVE?
A COBBLERS BENCH ENTHRONED BY GOD WHO SPOKE TO WILLIAM CAREY.
A BOSTON SHOE STORE BECAME A HOLY MOUNT FOR DWIGHT L. MOODY.
DO NOT LIMIT GOD IN ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER TODAY BY EXPECTING HIM TO ANSWER IT IN THE SETTING AND MANNER YOU CHOOSE.
SUB-POINT THREE: GOD MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDEMPTION.
WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO MOSES?
EXODUS 3:7-8:
THE LORD SAID, “I HAVE INDEED SEEN THE MISERY OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT. I HAVE HEARD THEM CRYING OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR SLAVE DRIVERS, AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SUFFERING. 8 SO I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM FROM THE HAND OF THE EGYPTIANS AND TO BRING THEM UP OUT OF THAT LAND INTO A GOOD AND SPACIOUS LAND, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY—THE HOME OF THE CANAANITES, HITTITES, AMORITES, PERIZZITES, HIVITES AND JEBUSITES.
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO ABRAHAM SO THAT OUT OF ABRAHAM’S RACE, CHRIST, THE REDEEMER, WOULD BE BORN. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO ABRAHAM, MOSES, JONAH, AND A SCORE OF OTHERS, SO THAT HIS REDEMPTIVE MOTIVES COULD BE CLEARLY SEEN.
TODAY AT CHRISTMAS GOD HAS THROUGH CHRIST REVEALED HIMSELF TO US.
HEBREWS 1:1-2:
IN THE PAST GOD SPOKE TO OUR ANCESTORS THROUGH THE PROPHETS AT MANY TIMES AND IN VARIOUS WAYS, 2 BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON, WHOM HE APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS, AND THROUGH WHOM ALSO HE MADE THE UNIVERSE.
AS CHRISTIANS, GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO HUMANITY WITH THE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL RESPOND TO HIS PLEA FOR REDEMPTION. THE CROSS OF CALVARY BECOMES A FLAMING BUSH FOR ALL LOST SINNERS TO ENCOUNTER A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THE GREAT QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED IS HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO THAT CALL?
POINT TWO: HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO GOD’S REVELATION?
MOSES RESPONSE TO GOD WAS POSITIVE FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE.
HEBREWS 11:25-26:
HE CHOSE TO BE MISTREATED ALONG WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD RATHER THAN TO ENJOY THE FLEETING PLEASURES OF SIN. 26 HE REGARDED DISGRACE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST AS OF GREATER VALUE THAN THE TREASURES OF EGYPT, BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING AHEAD TO HIS REWARD.
OF ALL THE THINGS MOSES SAID AND DID FOR THE LORD, THE GREATEST WERE THE SANDALS THAT HE TOOK OFF HIS FEET THAT DAY.
TO THE JEWS, BARE FEET WAS A SIGN OF SERVANTHOOD. WHEN MOSES REMOVED HIS SANDALS, HE WAS PROCLAIMING SERVANTHOOD TO GOD. IN REVERENTAL AWE HE RESPONDED TO GOD’S LOVE AND BECAME THE WILLING CAPTIVE OF GOD’S REDEMPTIVE MISSION. I WONDER, ARE WE READY TO WEAR THOSE CAPTIVE CHAINS TODAY, OR ARE WE GOING TO BE CAPTIVE TO THE WORLD AROUND US?
SUB-POINT 1: OUR RESPONSE COULD BE NO:
WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SAY NOT TO GOD’S CALL. I REMEMBER VISITING WITH PEOPLE ONCE AND ONE SAID TO THE OTHER, THE NEXT TIME GOD CALL’S YOU TO DO SOMETHING, LET IT GO TO CALL WAITING.
GOD DOES HAVE A GREAT PLAN FOR US, BUT ONLY IF WE SUBMIT TO HIM.
JEREMIAH 29:11: FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” DECLARES THE LORD, “PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.
ONE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE BLESSING OF GOD, BUT NOT WITHOUT HIS JUDGMENT. GOD WILL ALLOW YOU TO LEAVE YOUR SANDALS ON, BUT TO DO SO, YOU IN YOUR PRIDE, WILL HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CALVARY THAT WAS SHED FOR YOU. ONE CAN LIVE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD, BUT NOT WITH PEACE OF MIND.
SUB-POINT TWO: A POSITIVE RESPONSE MEANS MORE THAN SALVATION:
ABRAHAM BECAME A BLESSING FOR OTHERS.
MOSES LED THE ISRAELITES OUT OF BONDAGE.
JONAH SAW THE PEOPLE OF NINEVAH REPENT.
WHEN WE REMOVE OUR SHOES BEFORE GOD’S REDEEMING BURNING BUSH, WE BECOME PART OF HIS SAVING ACTIVITY FOR US, AND FOR OTHERS.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:3: YOU SHOW THAT YOU ARE A LETTER FROM CHRIST, THE RESULT OF OUR MINISTRY, WRITTEN NOT WITH INK BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT ON TABLETS OF HUMAN HEARTS.
GOD WANTS TO REACH OTHERS THROUGH YOU.
CONCLUSION:
WE ALL STAND BEFORE BURNING BUSHES OF SOME KIND.
SOME FOR SALVATION
SOME FOR DIRECTION
THE DECISION THOUGH IS YOURS AS TO WEATHER OR NOT YOU WILL REMOVE YOUR SANDALS, AND ALLOW GOD TO WORK HIS WONDERFUL PLAN THROUGH YOU.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REACT TO YOUR BURHING BUSH?
