Hear Ye

The Burning Bush

There are many great stories about Moses, a baby in the rushes found by the Princess, the confrontation with Pharaoh and the plagues, crossing the Red Sea, receiving the Ten Commandments and the burning bush. Let’s look closer at the burning bush.

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:4-6).

I don’t want to look at the conversation between Moses and God or to precede on in the account to view the message. I want to look at the event. The God of the universe, Divine Creator spoke to a man. This direct contact was a holy event. Don’t get too close and do take off the sandals. This is holy ground. God’s revelation to His creature, man, is to be taken seriously.

Thus Saith the Lord:

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel…(Jeremiah 45:2).

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God (Ezekiel 28:6).

Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD (Exodus 7:17).

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel (I Samuel 15:2).

Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren (II Chronicles 11:4).

The point of these verses is “Thus saith the LORD”. These verses are only a small sampling of the many times this phrase appears in the Scriptures. The Lord is revealing Himself to mankind in the Scriptures. Here is a sobering thought: Every time a person reads or hears a verse from the Bible, there is a preceding phrase: “Thus saith the LORD”. Since the Word of God is God’s revelation, every word is directly to each person as “Thus saith the LORD”.

Speak Lord for Thy Servant Is Listening

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (I Samuel 3:10).

In this story the prophet, Samuel, is just a boy serving the priest, Eli. The Lord calls out to Samuel and Samuel thinks it is Eli calling him. Eli perceives that it is the Lord speaking to Samuel and instructs him to reply, “Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” (Samuel 3:9). Earlier when we saw Moses at the burning bush, Moses said, “Here I am.”. What is the point? The point is the appropriate response to “Thus saith the LORD” is “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.”.

When we open the Scriptures, the Lord is speaking to us and we want to be listening. This is a holy transaction that is humbling and very thankworthy.

Example:

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (Acts 22:6-11).

This is the story of the Apostle Paul’s conversion. The Lord Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, named Saul at the time, in a very dramatic way. Paul’s response to the revelation was appropriate because Paul asked, “What shall I do, Lord?”

In summary, the Lord’s revelation of Himself is a serious and wonderful happening. Receiving His revelation puts us on holy ground and the proper response is to be listening and asking what should I do. Praise the Lord, believers have ready access to the Word of God and the glorious provision of the Holy Spirit within them to provide understanding.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16).

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1: 19-20).