Heart Meditations

Exodus 3

vs 1 How must that have been for Moses to go from being a prince in Egypt to keeping his father in laws flock.  Why had he never been able to get any flocks of his own?  Did his father in law always remind him of the fact that he had done him a favour in allowing him to marry one of his daughters and be a part of the family.  Considering he was a stranger and a poor one.  Did they believe all his stories of being an Egyptian prince.  It’s funny he left Egypt because he was too Hebrew but when he gets to Median they refer to him as the Egyptian.  We know the rest of the story but for Moses did he think his was the end for him.  This would be his life working for his father in law, never having anything of his own.  All his talent, training all ‘wasted’ on watching some else’s sheep.  Whether by accident or by intention he came to Mt Horeb.  I am not sure if it always had the name ‘mountain of God’ or if this came later but either way in his wondering, in his meandering he came to a place where God was.  He came into the foot hills of God’s mountain and any time you get around the presence of God even on the outskirts strange things are likely to happen.  

vs 3 Moses is drawn to God through a desire to understand something that seemly doesn’t make sense.  It is a scientific question that first draws him. He has not intention of meeting God, or becoming a rescuer of his people.  He only wants to understand why this bush is burning with being consumed.  He seems to have a scientific mind in that he doesn’t run away thinking it to be a bad omen or the result of some kind of magic.  He thinks that upon investigation he will be able to discover what is going on.  But from this place of curiosity God speaks to Moses.

vs 4 In fact God was watching to see whether he would turn aside.  Why didn’t God just send an angel or appear?  Why did he set up this situation.  What if Moses had not been paying attention and had walked right past this burning bush.  How many times have walked past God because I wasn’t paying attention.  How many seemingly strange situations had God in them or maybe where even caused by God to get my attention.  Somehow for God, Moses ability to turn aside was a prerequisite for God to speak to Him.  God will not speak if we will not turn aside.

vs 5 What a strange set up, after going through all the effort to get Moses attention, He then tells him not to come near.  I wonder why he said this.  However as Moses would continue his journey with God he would get to the  place where he spoke with God face to face.  it also strike me that if a bush can be a conduit of God’s presence then so can any of us.

vs 6 It has been a while since God has spoken.  

vs 8 God hears and knows my pain and suffering.  Even the pain and suffering I do not recognise, that I have medicated so as not a feel. The scars that I do not remember how I came by he remembers.  It is God who comes down to initiate the deliverance of his people.  After all if you a truly a slave you can not rescue yourself.  You are completely dependant on an outside force to come a rescue you.  And even if you are rescued you have nothing of your own.  If the people had simply been set free in Egypt what would have happened.  Eventually they would have gone back to doing what they had been doing.  Unless you are freed and given a new land and identity etc you can have not hope of ever really being free and so God promises them not just freedom but a new land.

vs 12 God’s signs are often in the future.  After you have already taken some steps along the way.  You don’t get the sign before you go you get it as you are going.

vs 18-22 God basically told him everything that was going to happen including Pharaoh ‘s hardness of heart etc.  Its interesting that when it actually happened the elder’s reacted as if Moses was doing it wrong.