Horeb is actually Sinai...
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Horeb is actually Sinai. It is called God's mountain. They used to associate places with gods in those days. I suppose we could say that the struggle to climb a mountain is like the struggle to find God.
The burning bush is unique in the Bible. That is the only time God appears to anyone in that form. It is also interesting that an "angel" is almost the equivalent of God. He can often appear as a blazing fire, though. God often speaks through angels. We never know how God will appear to us. Keep your eyes and ears open. It can be through an inspired sermon or through a comment by one of our children. I have had God jump out at me through a passage of scripture that touched my heart in a powerful way. Don't keep your Bible closed!
It is interesting that Moses had to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground. In Nepal everyone took off their shoes and left them outside the door of the church. But that was mainly because the members sat on a woven matt on the floor and they wanted to keep it clean. Our customs change but not for religious reasons in most cases. God searches the heart and not the shoe!
It is interesting that if we get too close to God we may die. To see God face-to-face was something only a few of the Lord's top dogs could do and survive, but they still had to act very carefully in God's presence.
The most important message in this passage is that God cares about his people and what they have to endure. Their cries have reached God's ears. We could mention that that crying had been going on for almost 400 years, so as always, don't expect God to answer immediately. How many years were the slaves in the South crying out for freedom and justice, yet few of the original appeals were answered in their lifetime. The sincerity and constancy of their crying was heard and is still being answered.
One look at history reveals years and often generations pass before the cries of God's people are heard. How long will it be before the cries of the Christians who are being abused and persecuted in some Muslim countries are heard? It may not be in our lifetime. Patience seems like it should be one of the essential qualities of God's people.
As often happens, the one who is sent to solve a problem wants to know how he will be received and if he will survive and what proof he will need. All God tells Moses is to give his name which is simply "I AM" In Hebrew that is Yahweh. All we need to do is to go in the name of the Lord and we will succeed.
The burning bush is unique in the Bible. That is the only time God appears to anyone in that form. It is also interesting that an "angel" is almost the equivalent of God. He can often appear as a blazing fire, though. God often speaks through angels. We never know how God will appear to us. Keep your eyes and ears open. It can be through an inspired sermon or through a comment by one of our children. I have had God jump out at me through a passage of scripture that touched my heart in a powerful way. Don't keep your Bible closed!
It is interesting that Moses had to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground. In Nepal everyone took off their shoes and left them outside the door of the church. But that was mainly because the members sat on a woven matt on the floor and they wanted to keep it clean. Our customs change but not for religious reasons in most cases. God searches the heart and not the shoe!
It is interesting that if we get too close to God we may die. To see God face-to-face was something only a few of the Lord's top dogs could do and survive, but they still had to act very carefully in God's presence.
The most important message in this passage is that God cares about his people and what they have to endure. Their cries have reached God's ears. We could mention that that crying had been going on for almost 400 years, so as always, don't expect God to answer immediately. How many years were the slaves in the South crying out for freedom and justice, yet few of the original appeals were answered in their lifetime. The sincerity and constancy of their crying was heard and is still being answered.
One look at history reveals years and often generations pass before the cries of God's people are heard. How long will it be before the cries of the Christians who are being abused and persecuted in some Muslim countries are heard? It may not be in our lifetime. Patience seems like it should be one of the essential qualities of God's people.
As often happens, the one who is sent to solve a problem wants to know how he will be received and if he will survive and what proof he will need. All God tells Moses is to give his name which is simply "I AM" In Hebrew that is Yahweh. All we need to do is to go in the name of the Lord and we will succeed.
