“When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”
Moses is having an ordinary day.
He is tending sheep in the wilderness, doing the work he has done countless times before. There is no indication that he expects anything unusual to happen. No great spiritual experience. No dramatic revelation.
But then he sees it.
A bush is burning, but it is not consumed.
Curious, Moses turns aside to look. And as he approaches, God calls to him from the bush:
“Moses, Moses.”
Everything changes in that moment.
The ground beneath his feet is the same dirt it was a few moments earlier. The mountain is the same mountain. The wilderness is the same wilderness. Yet God tells Moses, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
What made it holy?
God was there.
That is what holiness ultimately means—not merely moral purity or religious feeling, but the presence of the Holy One Himself.
It’s easy to think that God is only present in special places or extraordinary moments. We imagine Him at work in churches, retreats, mission fields, or major life events. And certainly He is.
But Exodus 3 reminds us that God often meets people in the middle of ordinary life.
Moses did not go looking for God that day. God came looking for Moses.
And that is often the pattern throughout Scripture. God takes the initiative. He calls and reveals Himself. He draws near.
The same is true for us.
We may not encounter a burning bush, but God still comes to us through His Word. He still speaks and makes Himself known. What appears ordinary—a sermon, a Bible reading, a conversation about Christ—becomes extraordinary because God is present and active through His Word.
Moses’ first response is reverence. He hides his face because he knows he stands before the holy God.
Yet the God who is holy is also the God who has come to rescue His people. The burning bush is not merely a display of divine power. It is the beginning of God’s plan to deliver Israel from slavery.
The God who is holy is also the God who saves.
And when God saves you, what does He do to you? Listen to 1 Peter 2:9:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
and 1 Corinthians 6:19:
“do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”
He makes you holy. How? He dwells in you. You’re still the same human flesh living the same human life, but now you are holy because of God’s presence.
So today, remember that God is not distant. He is not confined to spectacular moments. He is present wherever He chooses to reveal Himself. And through His Word, He continues to call His people by name. And by His Spirit, He makes His people holy.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Help me never lose sight of Your majesty and holiness. Yet thank You that You are also the God who comes near and speaks to Your people. I am not worthy to come near the Holy God; but through Jesus, you have cleansed me and drawn near to me. Open my ears to hear Your Word and my heart to receive it with reverence and faith.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
