Friday: Further Thought – The Burning Bush
Daily Lesson for Friday 11th of July 2025
Read Ellen G.White, “Moses,” Pages 251–256, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
The dramatic burning bush call was probably the most transformative experience in Moses’ life. All other high points in his life depended on his positive, obedient response to God’s commissioning him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.
Sure, we know now how it all turned out. But put yourself in Moses’ place at the time of the burning bush. He had fled from Egypt to save his life. A new generation of Hebrews had come on the scene over the 40 years, many of whom probably knew little about him, or maybe even what they heard about him was wrong, filtered through stories that over time get distorted. _And yet now, he was called by God to lead this same people away from a powerful nation? _No wonder he was reluctant at first!
Yes, it was an extremely demanding task, but imagine what he would have missed if he had given a final no to God. He might have just disappeared into history instead of—through the power of God working in him—literally making history and becoming one of the greatest and most influential people, not just in the Bible but in the world itself.
Discussion Questions
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In our Sabbath School lesson studies we often take the stance that the lessons are primarily intended for our own spiritual growth, That is quite reasonable and I often ask myself the question what can I learn from this study. But, I think that sometimes look at the lessons collectively and ask the question, “What can the chuch organisation learn from these lessons?”
I would like to make two points:
It is probably a good time to think about linking these two ideas.
Exodus is not a book of rules on how to run a spiritually directed organisation, but rather a case study. The people are not perfect, and nor are their leaders. The story includes grumbling, dietary complaints, internal disagreements, schisms, tempers lost, and frustrations vented. And, looking over the history of Seventh-day Adventist organisation and management, I see much the same.
If we think that we can learn to be a perfect church by looking at the Exodus, we may have perhaps missed the purpose of the book. In one sense, the book is prophetic: The modern church is not very different.
Keeping one's faith in an imperfect church with imperfect leadership is difficult. I know that many of you will respond that the only way to survive is to look at Jesus rather than one another. I have heard that admonition all my life. But how do I put that into practice when I am interacting with real, imperfect people like me?