“The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush. He looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up. Moses said, ‘I’m going to go over and see this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t being burned up’” (Exodus 3:2-3). 

 In Exodus 3:1 the Torah reveals that Moses is on the very mountain that he will eventually lead the children of Israel. The place where the power and condescending presence of the Lord will be manifest, Mt. Horeb. Yet, as Moses tends the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the Lord quietly appears in a bush, with the appearance of fire. Rabbinic tradition explains that Moses had left the flock of Jethro to find one lost lamb (cf. Lk. 15:4-7), and that his care for the lost sheep indicated that he was ready to shepherd the children of Israel. Further, the Torah is careful to record that Moses “looked and saw” the burning bush, causing him to turn aside to investigate (Ex. 3:2-3). As followers of Messiah, we learn valuable lessons from this event. 

Daily life can be filled with many distractions. Whether from employment, family, or personal struggles, there always seems to be something in need of our attention. And in the turbulence of life, our ability to discern the Lord’s voice can be overcome by many other voices. 

 The Bible is filled with miraculous demonstrations of the Lord’s power. For those observing the parting of the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea), there was little doubt as to the Lord’s presence. When the sun stood still for Joshua, it confirmed that the sovereign Lord heard his prayer. When Elijah called down fire from heaven to defeat the priests of Ba’al, this also confirmed His abiding presence. The record of miraculous events continues in the New Testament with demonstrations of healing and resurrection, and the atoning work of Yeshua/Jesus. Miracles are the work of the sovereign Lord, but is this how He desires to regularly speak with His people? 

 The episode of Moses reminds us of the quiet, abiding presence of the Lord, the I Am (Ex. 3:14). The Lord did not begin his conversation with Moses by calling him to the bush, this would be moments later (Ex. 3:4). Moses had to notice the fire. Much like the remembrance of Hanukkah, the miracle at work here is subtle. The oil of the Menorah that lasted eight days burned but was not consumed. To look at the Menorah one would not notice a miracle taking place unless one first turned to give attention. The burning bush burned, but was not consumed, a strange, but subtle sight to behold (Ex 3:2). 

 Moses needed to experience the quiet voice of the Lord, the stillness of His presence, and learn to recognize it, before the chatter of the children of Israel overwhelmed him. Elijah, having defeated the priests of Ba’al in a miraculous demonstration of God’s power, fled to Horeb because of the voice of Jezebel. At Horeb Elijah did not find the Lord in the wind, earthquake, or fire; but in the, קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה, “still small voice,” or another way, the sound of sheer stillness (1 Kgs. 19:11-12). 

 While miracles are wonderful gifts from the Lord affirming His abiding presence, His desire is that His people would learn to listen to His voice, in the quiet. The episode with Moses, and even Elijah, remind us that we must give attention to life around us, beyond what is consuming our focus. God is still working among His people, in glorious ways, yet we must take the time to notice, turn, and discern what He is doing in that moment. As followers of Messiah, we must learn to hear and recognize the voice of our Shepherd before we enter the storms of life or experience the thunder and earthquakes of His condescending presence, and His miraculous manifestations. As Messiah said, “My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, and I give them eternal life” (Jn. 10:27). 

 When Moses and Elijah were speaking with Messiah face to face on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5), Peter, when raising his voice presumptuously, hears the voice of the Father in heaven speaking and quieting him by saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). As if to say, “Peter, hear Him. With all that will be in the years ahead, learn to hear Him now.” This is my prayer for us dear reader, that we continue to learn to hear Him, to know Him, and follow Him wherever He may lead us. 

 Maranatha. Shalom.