Over the past few weeks I have been battling a cold. I mean BATTLING! This one is a Whopper. One week I am voiceless, another I can't stop coughing, now I'm keeping Kleenex Tissues in business. With so much to do, so many good opportunities and only twenty-four hours to do them in, I have to accept I can't do them all. How willing is my Spirit though my flesh is currently weak. Still, the "blog must go on" so, while it may be a day late on the calendar, I trust God's timing is perfect! I have been pondering none the less!
The journey I am on through Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, has become a marvelous blessing. Tomorrow I will have completed my first month in the shadow of Oswald's perspective and I am richer for the experience. The power of God's Word yoked with the faithful heart of a servant is transforming. I marvel at the conversations I've had with the Lord and yet, I am not surprised by them. For God is more eager to meet with me, than I am to sit as his feet. The remarkable truth is,this pleasure is mine for the taking, as long as I desire it. God will never be the one to end our time together. This is just one aspect of his immeasurable love.
I remember thinking the other day--after writing about my fear of the ocean and all the various "jaws" in her depths-- of the years I spent on the beach unsupervised. Sun up to sun down and often into the night, I roamed the peninsula in search of adventure. I mean no disrespect to my father, but the truth is, his desire was not to be with me. He was eager to meet with others. Yet, as I pondered the past God revealed a most touching truth...not once did God take his eyes off of me. Though my father lived in rebellion to his role, my Heavenly Father was faithful in his.
Obedience is the topic of Oswald's devotional. A word most find cutting, if not at least abrasive. The word itself points out that we are not in charge: that there is someone higher than us to whom we are to surrender our will. Oh, but we want our way in our time, so we pretend not to hear the voice of God's Spirit telling us what to do. We dance around issues and in so doing we rob ourselves of God's presence.
Yes, God's presence. For this is what I have come to know: though the Holy Spirit resides within us and the eyes of God are always upon us, we may not always experience his presence. Charles Stanley spoke about this in his sermon this morning...again I note God's timing. Being sick, I stayed home to absorb his insight on obedience and it ignited Oswald's devotional in my mind.
In the Old Testament the saints were noted as being heroes of faith, for they obeyed the call and direction of God without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Their faith and hope in God was indeed amazing. In their stories we find the Holy Spirit came upon them--as the Lord willed--in order to further his plan. Yet, their response to the the Spirit's prompting or invitation is what brought forth the presence of Almighty God.
Consider Moses' first encounter of God's presence.
"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.So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
Oh, how I love this story! The visual of God posing for Moses in the midst of his creation. Almighty God silently burning on his own mountain waiting to be noticed by a single man. Amazing! Of course God knew Moses would do a double take when he saw the bush on fire. Yet,God would not make him take one single step towards it. The great I Am would simply...be. It was up to Moses to spot him among the wilderness and to draw near.
How wonderful of God to use fire. I'm sure there are other reasons for this display of his glory, however, I can't help giggle at the idea God was simply on fire--burning with desire--to begin his relationship with Moses. The two would become amazingly close over the years to come. Can you imagine Almighty God silently holding his breath in anticipation of revealing himself to his dear servant? What wheels were about to be set in motion!
Ah, but so much was riding on Moses reaction. Had he not taken a second look at the "strange sight," Moses would have missed an opportunity to dwell in the midst of the Creator of heaven and earth. Moses could have let the flock's needs come before his own. He could have tried to explain away the inflamed bush, or simply dismiss it as unimportant to him.
Fortunately, when Moses took notice of the bush, he turned and moved towards God with wonder. In other words, Moses surrendered his present agenda, to behold...he knew not what. He paused his own life to ponder something unfamiliar. Let us not forget he was in the middle of his work tending Jethro's flock. How many of us stop everything to move towards our own burning bush? Hmmm. I see God did not call out to Moses UNTIL he had first moved in the right direction, (Note to self!).
"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, Moses! Moses!"(Exodus 3:4NIV).
Something important happened next. Moses' response can not be over looked. He could have responded to the voice of God in any number of ways, and yet, Moses chose in that moment, to submit himself to the call. His very words convey his openness and availability to the God who cried out to him.
"And Moses said, "Here I am."
I wonder what my life would have been like growing up if my Dad had been open to God's call from the start. I dare say we would not have wandered in the desert for so long. Still, I was a stiff necked child with my own calls to obey. Nonetheless, I believe we both suffered through lack of obedience. The years spent under God's watchful eye, yet void of his comforting Presence, were many. I will never forget the moment God spoke my name, nor the message he conveyed. It is a moment burned on my heart. Years later I had the joy of escorting my Dad to his own burning bush, where He finally heeded God's call as well.
Moses surely had no idea when he set out to cross the desert with his father-in-laws flock, he would come face to face with Almighty God. Still, I find it interesting that Moses of his own choice came to "Horeb, the mountain of God," (Exodus 3:1NIV). I see a subtle work of the Spirit in this. Perhaps the Spirit came upon him and nudged his steps in the direction of God. For scripture teaches we do not come to the Father without the Father drawing us unto himself first. Therefore, I wonder if Moses knew the meaning of the name Horeb. I also wonder if Moses approached the mountain of God with his heart hungering to know God personally. He certainly sounded primed for a divine encounter, for there was no hesitation in his reply, "Here I am." (Exodus 3:4NIV). All this considered, Moses still chose to be obedient to the call and that made all the difference in his life and so many others.
I'd like to share one more thought regarding this passage. The moment Moses spoke, "Here I am," God gave him instructions.
"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
Surely that spot in the desert was not made of sacred elements. I believe what made that spot holy ground was Moses' response. When God saw Moses move to the bush, he moved also to meet him there: God's Presence made the ground holy. Additionally, when Moses surrendered to the call of God, he was in sense pouring his own will on an altar before the Lord as a burnt offering.
When we obey the call of God we can expect the Presence of the Lord to follow. When we like Moses, surrender our will, our day, our ??? to the Almighty, we should be mindful we too stand on holy ground. In those moments I pray we are quick to remove our sandals and behold the Presence of the great I Am!
For this I know...God is burning bright in our world...watching to see who will "go over" and behold him, (Exodus 3:3).
Lord open our eyes to your glory. Holy Spirit prep our hearts that we too will invite your Presence by responding, "Here I am!"
No comments:
Post a Comment