Awake to the Move of God
Scripture
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.’” - Exodus 3:2–3 (ESV)
“The favor of him who appeared in the bush.”- Deuteronomy 33:16 (ESV)
Reflection
There are moments in life when God calls us to stop, to turn aside, and to awaken. Moses was busy with his daily routine when he noticed something unusual, a bush that burned but was not consumed. That moment changed his life forever. It was not just a spectacle. It was an invitation to encounter God and to awaken to His move.
The burning bush represents divine encounter, a place where human effort ends and God’s presence begins. Before God spoke, He asked Moses to remove his sandals. For the Jew, this was a sign of reverence, but spiritually, it symbolizes something deeper: laying down self-effort and striving.
God was saying, “Take off what you have built in your own strength. Leave behind what you have used to protect yourself. Stand barefoot in My presence.” We cannot encounter God fully while still clinging to our own control. True awakening begins when we come to the end of ourselves and trust Him completely.
The ten plagues of Egypt later revealed this same truth. Each plague dismantled a false god, a symbol of human strength and self-sufficiency. God was declaring that no idol, no effort, and no human system can stand before His glory. The burning bush was the prelude to that victory.
When we lay down our striving, we make space for His strength. When we stop trying to fend for ourselves, we learn dependence. When we stop building walls and start building relationships, we invite God to bring the increase.
The fire in the bush burned but was not consumed. That is what God desires in us, a life set ablaze by His Spirit, burning with passion but not consumed by effort. His fire purifies, but it does not destroy. He calls us to holiness, to be a bride without spot or wrinkle, alive with His presence.
God keeps referencing that bush moment in Scripture because it is the place of transformation. It is the point where our human strength ends and divine grace begins. He is calling us to awaken, to turn aside, and to notice His move in our midst.
Reflection Questions
Prayer
Father, awaken me. Teach me to turn aside and notice Your presence in the middle of my ordinary days. Help me to lay down self-effort, control, and striving. I come barefoot before You, choosing reverence and surrender over self-reliance. Let Your fire burn within me without consuming me. Make me a vessel of Your presence, purified and dependent on Your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture References:
Exodus 3:2–6, Deuteronomy 33:16, Acts 7:35, Luke 22:42, Zechariah 4:6, John 15:5
Scripture
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.’” - Exodus 3:2–3 (ESV)
“The favor of him who appeared in the bush.”- Deuteronomy 33:16 (ESV)
Reflection
There are moments in life when God calls us to stop, to turn aside, and to awaken. Moses was busy with his daily routine when he noticed something unusual, a bush that burned but was not consumed. That moment changed his life forever. It was not just a spectacle. It was an invitation to encounter God and to awaken to His move.
The burning bush represents divine encounter, a place where human effort ends and God’s presence begins. Before God spoke, He asked Moses to remove his sandals. For the Jew, this was a sign of reverence, but spiritually, it symbolizes something deeper: laying down self-effort and striving.
God was saying, “Take off what you have built in your own strength. Leave behind what you have used to protect yourself. Stand barefoot in My presence.” We cannot encounter God fully while still clinging to our own control. True awakening begins when we come to the end of ourselves and trust Him completely.
The ten plagues of Egypt later revealed this same truth. Each plague dismantled a false god, a symbol of human strength and self-sufficiency. God was declaring that no idol, no effort, and no human system can stand before His glory. The burning bush was the prelude to that victory.
When we lay down our striving, we make space for His strength. When we stop trying to fend for ourselves, we learn dependence. When we stop building walls and start building relationships, we invite God to bring the increase.
The fire in the bush burned but was not consumed. That is what God desires in us, a life set ablaze by His Spirit, burning with passion but not consumed by effort. His fire purifies, but it does not destroy. He calls us to holiness, to be a bride without spot or wrinkle, alive with His presence.
God keeps referencing that bush moment in Scripture because it is the place of transformation. It is the point where our human strength ends and divine grace begins. He is calling us to awaken, to turn aside, and to notice His move in our midst.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of my life am I still trying to manage through my own effort and strength?
- Have I taken time to turn aside and notice what God is trying to reveal in this season?
- What would it look like for me to live daily in dependence on God rather than striving in self-sufficiency?
Prayer
Father, awaken me. Teach me to turn aside and notice Your presence in the middle of my ordinary days. Help me to lay down self-effort, control, and striving. I come barefoot before You, choosing reverence and surrender over self-reliance. Let Your fire burn within me without consuming me. Make me a vessel of Your presence, purified and dependent on Your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture References:
Exodus 3:2–6, Deuteronomy 33:16, Acts 7:35, Luke 22:42, Zechariah 4:6, John 15:5
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