Written by Rev. Dr. Tassie Green, Parish Associate, First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield, IL
There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of a bush; Moses looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:2-4 NRSV
When was the last time you “turned aside” to see a wonder? When did you set aside your destination, timeline, or goal long enough to be curious about what appears in front of you?
That’s what Moses does in this passage. God wants to see if Moses will take notice of something special in the world around him. God’s invitation to “turn aside” doesn’t often come to us in the form of a burning bush, but maybe it comes through a global pandemic, a demonstration for racial equality, an illness, or a change of plans. It’s important to remember that both you and your students’ lives are being interrupted with God’s promptings.
What will you do in response? Will you look to God, ready to see what He has placed before you? Have you prayed for your student and mentor? When you do, watch closely to see what God does next, and eagerly await an answer. Take time to “turn aside” and be curious. God is waiting for you in that space.