A short reading and prayers for today
When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.
Exodus 3:4 NLT
Moses’ life had been a remarkable one. Born in Egypt when the People of Israel were in slavery there, Pharaoh had gone to extraordinary lengths to kill off all Israelite baby boys. Moses had miraculously survived and was brought up as a member of Pharaoh’s household. Years later he saw one of his own Israelite people being abused and, in his anger, killed the perpetrator. Moses soon recognised that his own life was in danger and so he fled from the country. He got married to Zipporah and in our reading today we find him looking after his father in law’s sheep.
The life of a shepherd was a tough one. The heat could be intense and he continually needed to be alert to the threat from wolves and other wild animals. Much of what happened was familiar and predictable. However, in the midst of his working day he was suddenly aware of a burning bush. That in itself was not a surprise, but what drew his attention was that the bush didn’t burn up. As he inspected the bush more closely he suddenly heard the voice of God from the middle of the bush.
This was a life-changing moment for Moses and it happened on a normal working day, just like hundreds of others. It reminds us that we always need to be ready to hear the voice of God however ordinary and unremarkable our day might seem to be.
It’s very tempting to think that God will choose to speak to us in the middle of a church service, or at a Christian festival or whilst on spiritual retreat – and he might! But the experience of many people through the years is that God often speaks to us amidst the ordinary circumstances of our lives.
The challenge to us is to be alert so that we hear God whenever he chooses to speak with us.
QUESTION
Do you consider that you are sufficiently alert to hear God’s voice today?
PRAYER
Lord God, thank you for the way in which you speak to us. Give me ears to hear your voice amidst all the distractions of my daily life. Amen
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory,
we may be made like him
in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.