The Hospitality of God…God invites us to take off our shoes and walk on Holy Ground!
God invites us to go beyond what we believe about ourselves.
God sees us and believes in us and promises to go with us on the journey.
God invites us to notice…
to pay attention…
to do great things with God’s help!
READ EXODUS 3: 1-17 NIV
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 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. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you havebrought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me toyou,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[d] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me from generation to generation.16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’
MOSES and burning bush
What is God, the Holy Spirit speaking to you about today?
What do you notice that you haven’t noticed before? What questions come up for you from this passage? You might read this passage in other translations.
- What part of this story do you relate to in your life right now?
- Like Moses, we’ve all been in the wilderness these past few years…how are you feeling? Are you still in the wilderness? Or coming out of it? Talk to Jesus about this.
- I’ve often wondered how long the bush was on fire before Moses actually noticed it. Why is it hard for us to notice when God is speaking to us? How has God gotten your attention…In the past or lately?
- Moses doesn’t avoid the “sign”…He goes over to see what is happening . Do you think he was expecting a new call? Any new things you’re avoiding? Are you willing to receive a NEW CALL a new adventure with Jesus?
- “Who am I to go? Moses asks God. Who am i to lead anyone?
God says:
I AMI AM WHO I AM
I AM is with you!
You are not alone!
You can’t do it… but I AM can! Maybe you’ve been feeling like Moses…Who am I to do it….? - How does it make you feel to know that the great I AM is with you? How can you be more willing to let I AM be in charge?
- • God shows up in the wilderness…God can speak to us through anything and everything! This week get outside and take time to NOTICE how Jesus speaks to you.
• LISTEN : “SPIRIT I AM ” by Eric Bibb.
• LISTEN and WATCH
Amazing Nature Scenery & Relaxing Music for Stress Relief
FOR FUN …MOSES and the Burning Bush in Animation
• ART SLIDE SHOW: What nature photos would you put in your own “art slide show” ? What has God used to speak to you …like the burning bush for Moses?
God is inviting you to pay attention. To watch for the burning bushes in your life!
When you take off your shoes …Remember that God is inviting you to be with Him on Holy Ground!
Even though you may still be in the wilderness of life. Even though you may be tending someone else’s sheep and given up on the dreams you had once upon a time.
I AM has not given up on YOU! YOU are NOT ALONE! I AM is with YOU!
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
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