The Burning Bush Experience

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Everyone has a specific time in their life that they will remember for eternity.

The summer of 2001 marks a significant milestone in my spiritual life. It was at 29 years of age that I reluctantly set foot in a non-denominational church for the very first time. My family and I had just moved to the Valley and against all odds and strong opposition from board members I had been hired to work as a teacher at a local Christian school. I was in fact, in the eyes of the world, the least likely to ever work at such a place.

After five interviews and a plethora of “hard to understand” theological questions Cheri Sarver, the assistant principal, approached me and informed me that she would be leading the academy the following year and wanted me to be on her team. She looked at me straight in the eyes and said “my son, I will be praying for you”. I then reminded her that I was in fact not “saved” or “born again” and that I had no biblical knowledge whatsoever…to that she replied “but you will”…

My employment came with one condition – I was to sit in Ms. Karen’s 4th grade Bible class and learn scripture with the rest of the children… a very humbling experience.

So there I was two months into the school year on a Sunday morning standing outside the church asking myself “why am I here?” I hesitated, but slowly walked inside hoping the preacher wouldn’t sound like the ones on t.v.

The lead pastor greeted the congregation as he welcomed the guest speaker, Danny Johnston. I had convinced myself that we would leave the place if the “preacher man” starting shouting, pointing the finger saying God has word for you or even dared to speak in King James version… And as fate would have it he did in fact all of the above.

Frustrated, incredulous and upset I remained in my seat as I counted the minutes.

After a brief moment I would find myself dumbfounded as he quoted scripture I had never heard before in my life. It almost seemed as though the message had been tailor-made for us. He addressed the trials we were facing at the point in our lives and
offered the hope of Jesus. It was at that moment when I fell to my knees and repented before the Lord for my rebellion and invited Jesus into my life. A peace surpassing all understanding had enveloped me in my entirety. Things would never be the same
again.

After just two years I was approached by my pastor and was asked to consider shepherding the Spanish ministry at the church that saw me get saved. Just as Moses stood before the burning bush feeling incompetent as the Lord spoke and instructed him so did I.

After hearing from God Moses asked God two direct questions –
Who am I Lord?
Who are you?

Oftentimes we find ourselves in that same position – feelings of insecurity, awkwardness and incapable of fulfilling the call that God has placed upon our lives. We develop a twisted idea of what God is seeking from us.

He is not seeking perfection, He is seeking availability. If we are willing He is able to use us in ways we never even dreamed, thought or imagined. He is the God that makes the impossible possible. The God that is able to take what the world has rejected and discarded and use it for His glory.

Just as a potter places a shapeless lump of clay on a wheel molding and shaping it into something beautiful so does our heavenly Father as we become available to him. He is the potter and we are the clay.

So the bush continues to burn and God replies to Moses’s two questions. In a nutshell God says, (paraphrasing) “Moses this is not about who you are, this is about who I am and what I am able to do through you – you are not going alone for I go with you”. He then responds to his second question by saying “Moses, I AM WHO I AM”…enough said!

He was saying to Moses I AM
Jehovah Jireh your provider,
Jehovah Shalom your peace,
Jehovah Ro’i your shepherd,
Jehovah Tsidkenu your righteousness,
Jehovah Maccaddeshcem your sanctifier,
Elyon the Most High God,
El Olam the Everlasting God and
El Shaddai The God that is more than Enough!
God is all that you will ever need. He is able if you are willing.

Are you willing to stop focusing on your weaknesses and zero in on His strengths and Sovereignty? If so, get ready to be used in a mighty way for His glory.It’s time to let go and let God.

Shalom,

Milton