“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush…and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see…why the bush is not burnt.” (Exod. 3:2-3)
One of the most interesting and compelling stories in all the Old Testament is the story of Moses and the burning bush. This burning bush experience transformed Moses forever. Up until then, Moses was just a shepherd, keeping his father-in-law’s flock on the backside of a desert. But, like everyone, when you encounter the presence of God, your life will be forever changed!
Long before Moses encountered the bush, God had planted that bush. God wanted to meet with Moses because He had a huge plan for Moses to one day lead the Children of Israel out of bondage. But He needed to prepare Moses for such an undertaking.
God had this bush waiting for Moses but He needed to get Moses to that bush. God has a plan and purpose for you, too, but He needs to prepare you for your purpose. Before Moses could lead people, he had to learn how to lead sheep.
Before God ever put Moses in the spotlight, He prepared him alone in a desert. The desert experience was necessary in order to prepare Moses for something greater. Sometimes God allows us to have wilderness experiences in our lives; times when we feel all alone, as if even God has forsaken us. These are not fun times, yet they are sometimes necessary in order to get our eyes back on God so He can prepare us for what is ahead.
Think about this: God brought Moses to the desert, because that was where God was going to meet with Him! Moses saw more of God in that bush, and in that desert, than he ever saw back in the palace of Pharaoh!
Maybe you are in your wilderness experience right now. The best way to find your purpose is to let God prepare you in your wilderness time. Learn to get alone with God, then He will reveal His will to you. Stay faithful. God has a bush for you, too!