It was the guy from the local Firestone store with a report on our van. The end result of the call [an $800+ needed repair] left me more than mildly grumpy. I decided to get up. Sleep had fled with the last of my paycheck.
I made the coffee and shuffled into the den rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Logged into my email and found a message from my good friend Greg Perry and an invite to join him at J&J’s Market and Cafe downtown off Broadway near Lyle. I didn't hesitate to send a response.
So I got dressed and made my way downtown. I love hanging out with Greg. Something good always comes out of the conversation.
I walked in and we shook hands and pulled one another into a brief ‘man-hug” (clasped right hands, left arm around the back, two slaps on the back, and out again). We spent a while just catching up. We sipped coffee and earl grey as we slid down into deeper topics like sliding into my uncle Bob’s old worn leather easy-chair.
Sometimes in life I face big decisions and I really want someone to tell me where and when to step, jump, or climb through a window of opportunity. Greg and I were discussing a possible opportunity that has been in front of me for a while. Indecision often hamstrings me. Doubt frequently blindsides me like a Ray Lewis tackle leaving me stunned and immobilized.
As Greg and I talked he shared with me something I should have considered on my own. Sometimes, That’s where my enemy likes to keep me. So confused and so hesitant that I can’t remember all the things that should be second nature to me.
Greg reminded me of Exodus 3. It’s the story of Moses and the point in his life where God appeared to him in a burning bush. God was trying to convince Moses to go to Egypt and be His man, his voice before Pharaoh and all the Israelites. So I was curious. When I got home I began to read it the account. In fact, I've read it a couple of times since Saturday.
Moses, while tending Jethro’s sheep, sees this light and off he goes to check it out. As he approaches, he sees it’s a bush - and it’s on fire! But yet it’s NOT-on-fire. Curiosity gets the best of him and he moves closer. Suddenly the voice of God says, “Do not come any closer...”
Now I don’t know about you but if I saw a bush-burning-but-NOT-burning, I’d want to check it out. So when an opportunity shows itself I immediately get excited. I move closer to check it out. I get passionate and curious - I've got to find out what this thing is!
I’m so focused that I tune out the voice of God telling me to “STOP! Don’t come any closer!” There’s a reason for this warning.
If I don’t mind that warning I can be consumed...burned by God’s perfect presence without ever seeing his purpose. “Take off your shoes. Don’t take another step. You are on holy ground.”
When opportunity presents itself, I’m so caught up in my own desire that sometimes I don’t stop long enough to take my shoes off and wiggle my toes in the warmth of God’s nearness.
The other thing that to me is obvious in this well-known story is not just the excuses that Moses makes. That’s probably the aspect if the story most folks focus on. Most of us only recall how frustrated God was with Moses and how lame his excuses were.
What I find intriguing is a fact that Greg brought to my attention. God provided a way around or over every single obstacle Moses had placed in the way of obedience to God’s calling.
Check out God’s promises:
Moses: “But God? I’m a nobody.”
God: “I’ll go with you every step of the way. And when you come back? You’ll worship together with all my people on this mountain.”
Moses: “What if the Israelites ask me who it is that sent me? What’s his name? What will I say?”
God: “Say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah, Yahweh, I am’, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. Tell them you come in My name.”
Moses: “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘Jehovah did not appear to you! Liar!’?”
God: What’s in your hand? A stick? Throw it on the ground. I’m going to empower you!”
As if all this wasn't enough....
God: “Put your hand in your cloak. Now pull it out.”
Moses: [GASP] “I have leprosy!! What have you done!!?? I should NEVER have listened to you!
God: Put your hand back in your cloak. Pull it out again.
Moses: No WAY!!! There’s no telling what disease you’ll afflict me with next!
God: Just do it!
Moses: It’s...it’s...hey! It’s healed. How di...what did...yeah b-b-but...you...you healed me.
God: Well of course I did. See? You can trust my heart. It’s good. I have great plans for you....I would NEVER harm you.
Moses tries, lamely, one last time...
Moses: But God, I stutter. I-I-I get tongue-tied! I’ll say all the wrong things and I’ll mess it all up!
God: Oh brother!
Moses: What did you say?
God: Hey! Exactly! That’s it! Take your brother, Aaron with you.He’s really quite eloquent you know. I made him, remember? He can do all the talking. NOW! Quit making excuses!
So, God has a plan. He’ll go with me - every step. I should never fear because he’ll always show up and lead me...there and back again.
He reminds me that he sends me in His own name. So, those who have ears to hear...let them hear.
He heals me as I go. I’m not perfect today. I need his healing disparately. I will be perfectly healed one day because he heals me with each step I take if I follow him. The more steps I take as I follow him, the closer I get to perfection.
He expects me to trust his heart. It’s good after all - not like Satan would have me sometimes believe. He would have me believe God can’t be trusted - that I'm better off on my own. But God’s heart IS good and he wants good things for me.
He sends others to help me on my way. So, what am I waiting for?
I’m not equipped to see the future. I can only see right at my feet where he shines his light and where I’ve already been.
Like the scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where Indy’s dad, played by Sean Connery, has been shot by the evil Nazi Colonel Vogel. Indy must make his way past 3 boobie-traps to the Holy Grail and a final challenge of selecting the ‘right’ cup. The third test is a “step of faith” across a seemingly invisible bridge.
So Indy steps out into a chasm fully expecting to plunge to his death hundreds of feet below. Instead, to his amazement, he lands squarely on the bridge. As he makes his way across his confidence grows with each step. Once he safely reaches the far side of the chasm, he turns and tosses sand on the bridge to make the once invisible bridge, visible. Only then is he able to see where he has been. He shakes his head in wonder as he turns to go inside to face the last test.
What I need to remember is this:
(1) Listen to God’s instruction, stop and look on in wonder whenever I’m on the holy ground of his opportunity, and wait for further leading before stepping out in faith.
(2) Don’t make excuses or live in fear of my own perceived inadequacies - after all God made me - It's nice to have a plan but be flexible...God's plan is better.
(3) Look for the essential, which consequently, may be invisible. I should take someone with me, set others free from bondage, and bring them back so we can all celebrate together.
Peace and grace.
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