Today's Scripture
Exodus 3: 1 – 12 What’s Next?
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10 So come, I will send 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 He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V. 1-3 God appears to Moses in a burning bush
V. 4-6 God invites Moses to be in the presence of God. Moses takes off his shoes, as commanded.
V. 7-10 God reveals God’s plan to rescue the Israelites. God heard their cries.
V. 11-12 Moses asks, ‘why/how me?’ but God responds by saying, ‘I’ll be with you.’
What does the passage mean to me/us?
“Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5
God invites Moses to God’s presence, even though there is some distance. God is holy, and we cannot approach God with our unholiness.
That is the reason why God sent Jesus to the world. Similar to the act of taking off the sandals, which is considered the dirtiest part of one’s body, through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice, we are cleansed of our unholiness. Taking off the sandals also symbolizes the obedience of Moses or even submission.
As we approach God, we are submitting our lives to our Lord.
Sometimes following God’s command might be tough. Remember, even Moses questioned God.
However, also hear the good news. The Lord who called us and recognized us as righteous, through Jesus, also promises that God will be with us.
“‘I’ll be with you,’ God said.” (v. 12 The Message)
Prayer
Lord, we are thankful for your love and sacrifice calling and inviting us in your presence. Help us to realize our purpose to be sent to this world, to be a blessing. Be with us, as we submit to your will.
In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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