Today, we are going to climb Mount Horeb with Moses.
Our vacation begins with Moses in Midian on the farm of his father-in-law. We journey with Moses across the plains to the foothills, where we find refreshing water from the arid desert. As we go up Mount Horeb, we are not able to go all the way with Moses, but we can look upon him all the while.
We are not privileged to be with Moses when God speaks to him, but we can witness the events that transpire.
Moses is some distance from us when, suddenly, we see a great, bright, shining light which catches the attention of this man. It is a most unusual sight.
It is while standing here that Moses has a most unusual experience. God chose to speak to Moses personally that day. We can learn from Moses what to do when God speaks.
1. Be attentive
As Moses looked and saw this phenomenon, there were mixed feelings of fear and wonder.
A. Moses gave attention (Exodus 3:3)
It was mere curiosity that brought Moses to this bush. God often uses a very natural reaction to bring about a very unusual experience. When Moses came into the proper place, God was able to speak to His servant.
We wonder why we have no unusual experiences indicating God’s presence and His work among us today, but perhaps the answer lies in the fact that we are not looking for Him and are not in the place where He can speak. It often happens that God meets us in vain, because we are not in a place to hear Him speak. When Moses approached the bush, God revealed a message.
B. Anxious to hear
The Lord called, “Moses. Moses.” Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4)
It had been a long time since God had chosen to speak to one of His servants in this manner. Over 200 years had passed since God had spoken to Jacob. Now Moses was anxious to hear the message God would deliver to His servant.
Is it not true that we fall under condemnation for the seeming lack of a message from God simply because we have been too busy and too taken up in our own affairs to let God speak?
Moses had been in this wilderness for 40 years as a fugitive from Egypt. He had a lot of time to meditate on God’s dealings with His people. Further, Moses was deeply concerned about the plight of his countrymen in bondage. Doubtless, he had been searching God’s ways to see a sign of their escape. He was anxious to hear from God, so he could hear God when He came to him.
2. Be reverent
As Moses approached the bush, he was restrained. This was an act of reverence. The land on which he stood was Holy Ground. (Exodus 3:5)
A. A holy place
This spot was holy. Because this was a place where God touched earth to speak to a servant. Any such place where God meets His people is holy. Are we not condemned once again for our casual and carefree approach to God’s House?
B. A holy presence
When God graces a building or a location, that place is made holy and is worthy of reverence because of His holiness and righteousness.
3. Be obedient
A. Meekness (Exodus 3:11)
In the presence of God, Moses felt himself to be so inadequate for the great mission to which he was called.
When we recognize the righteousness of God and the fact that He would choose us for such work as His, we also are made to feel meek.
B. Assurance
“I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
We sing, “If Jesus goes with me I’ll go anywhere.” We can labor in the same assurance as Moses did. “I will be with you.”
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