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Jan 31, 2022 18:30pm

Come In Awe

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On March 28, 2020, we sat watching the news as a tornado formed and touched down in Jonesboro. As we saw the first cloud forming into a funnel, we were almost in disbelief. We shouted, “That can’t be a tornado! That’s going to go right through the middle of Jonesboro!”

Complete shock.

We couldn’t believe what we were seeing.

Captured on the weather cam, we were watching the tornado on live television.

I’ve never been so terrified or awestruck at the same moment. This was the craziest thing we had ever seen. And then to hear no one was killed . . . it was unbelievable.

Moses was awestruck by something he could never have imagined as well.

Moses was leading his flock, and suddenly the Angel of the Lord appeared. Here’s the thing, this is no ordinary angel.

This is actually Jesus. I know, I know, it’s mind-blowing. But yes, Jesus existed before he came as a little baby to the earth.

John 1:1 teaches us Jesus existed from the very beginning and was not created. He has existed from the very beginning of time because He is God and God is triune.

So here is Jesus appearing to Moses. But not just in any ordinary way, oh no. God was really grabbing his attention.

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him from inside a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire. But it didn’t burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I’ll go over and see this strange sight. Why doesn’t the bush burn up?’” (Exodus 3:2-3)

The first thing that makes this so amazing, is that there is even a bush. Apparently, this dessert is so vast and barren Moses would have been relieved to find a bush for shade from the hot sun.

But now it’s on fire, and it’s not burning up!

Moses couldn’t take his eyes away.

He couldn’t imagine such a sight. It was something that was terrifying and awesome all at the same time.

And then something even crazier happened.

God spoke to him through the bush:

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’
And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’
‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:4-6)

God spoke to Moses.

I’m sure he was dumbfounded and awestruck. But Moses managed to reply, “Here I am”.

How do you respond when God calls you?

In verse 5, God warns Moses to remove his sandals because the ground is holy because of the presence of the Lord.

Why would he have to remove his shoes? Because shoes were a symbol of no value, or worthlessness. Think of the Scripture where John the Baptist even said he was not worthy to unloose the strap of Jesus’ shoe (John 1:27).

God then proclaimed His authority as He said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”.

To a Jew, this carried more weight than you can imagine. It was more than just name dropping.

God said, I AM. When Moses heard this, he couldn’t even bear to look upon the bush because of God’s holiness.

How do we respond to the presence of God?

This morning, this Scripture really has me thinking more deeply on this question. Sure, we come before Him with a certain reverence, but are we truly in awe of God?

Are we bowing to Him in humility and confessing our unworthiness?

Do we recognize how Holy Jesus is that even though our eyes can’t believe what we see, we tear them out of fear and reverence?

God forgive me.

I nonchalantly come to you with lists of things I want you to do for me. I’m unworthy for you to even look upon.

I am truly in awe of your majesty, your authority and your design. And even more so Lord, that you love a sinner like me.

That you would even consider me to be your servant, much less your child! God, you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for me.

And I’m so unworthy.

Thank you, Lord.

May we be reminded of your holiness and be awestruck by your presence in our lives.

Amen.