Kolar: Finding Meaning in the 'Burning Bushes' of Our Lives

Exodus 3:4: 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."

When we were growing up, my Mom had a habit of suggesting that “somebody” do this or that chore. Even if there was only one of us in the room, she would say things like, “Can somebody take the garbage out?” Or “Can somebody empty the dishwasher?” I’m not sure to this day why she never just assigned the task to one of us or why she never simply said, “Janel, can you take the garbage out?” or “Janel can you empty the dishwasher?” What I do know is that it was pretty easy to pretend we didn’t know who she was talking to when she asked if “Somebody” could do a chore for her.

When God heard the cries of the children of Israel, he didn’t beat around the bush and suggest that “Somebody” go to Pharaoh and tell him to release his slaves. After making sure Moses was paying attention by showing him that bush that was on fire but not burning up, God called him by name, and Moses responded.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was eager to do the chore God was asking him to do. Quite the contrary, Moses tried to get out of that chore, in many ways. But I think Moses knew from the moment he saw that strange bush and heard his own name spoken by God, that there was a plan, he was part of it, and God wasn’t going to just give up and say, “Oh, alright then. I’ll just pick someone else to go.”

There were reasons God sent Moses. And there are reasons God calls us and sends us to deliver the people who are crying out in despair today. But I wonder, do we pay attention to the burning bushes presented to us, or pretend they are simply coincidences or anomalies?

The problem with God’s servants today is that we keep our schedules so full and our lives so busy, we probably really wouldn’t notice a bush that was burning and not being consumed. We’re more likely to be looking at our phones, or thinking about the next five things we have to do, or watching something important on television to pay attention to the burning bushes from which God might be calling us. And even if we noticed, even if we heard our own name coming from an unusual place, would we be more likely to say, “Here I am, I’m listening.” Or “I’m sorry, but I’m too busy/tired/broke/depressed/angry/fill-in-the-blank, for this kind of thing right now.”

One thing I know about God is that when God needs us to complete a task, we’re not going to talk our way out of it. If God is calling your name, you might as well say, “Here I am. What do you need?” Because those weird, unexplained, anomalous things that are getting our attention will likely continue until we do.

The great thing is, when we are called to God’s work, God promises to be with us and to provide what we need to accomplish that work. So look around, pay attention, and when God is trying to get your attention, be ready for anything, and be honored to be asked to help, even if, or perhaps especially if, the task seems incredibly difficult.