15 July 2015 - kind and merciful, not kind of merciful

There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire
flaming out of a bush.

There were many possible responses Moses might have made to this appearance. He could have ignored something so far outside of the realm of his experience. Had he been too wise or learned he might have discounted the sight of something he believed to be impossible. He might have been so overwhelmed by the sight that he fled in fear.

But Moses approached the revelation of God in a way that was childlike. He said, "I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned." We can hear Jesus saying:

I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.

Moses was not so afraid that he would not approach God. That would not be a holy fear. God wanted Moses to approach. He responded when he approached him.

When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely,
God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

We worry about approaching God too boldly. Indeed, the childlike boldness of Moses is probably a little too bold. But God has that covered. He is happy to help Moses to approach him in the right way. 

God said, “Come no nearer!
Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place where you stand is holy ground.

How much more should we approach God with a childlike curiosity and confidence. Unlike Moses, in Jesus "we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him" (cf. Eph. 3:12). We know that we must strive for holiness without which no one will see God (cf. Heb. 12:14). God is a fire which consumes all that is not holy (cf. Heb. 12:29). But if we do not approach that fire we will remain as we are. We will not grow in holiness nor will we see the LORD.

He is a consuming fire but he is kind and merciful. Let us approach him with trust that he wants to reveal himself. Experiencing the fire of his love is how this revelation begins. This is how are iniquities are pardoned and our ills are healed.

He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.

As God reveals himself we too hear ourselves sent out on mission:

Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people,
the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

With Moses we think, 'Why me?' But the God who reveals himself to us promises to remain with us and bring his revelation to those to whom we are sent.

He answered, "I will be with you;
and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you:
when you bring my people out of Egypt,
you will worship God on this very mountain.""