Exodus 3:2; Acts 7:30-32; Deuteronomy 4:20; Exodus 3:3,4
The incident of the burning bush was very significant to the children of Israel at that time, it still is and will remain so until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. The sight was so significant for Moses that he recorded it. The great sight attracted the attention of Moses and ought to engage ours too. It was a mystery to Moses but a miracle to Israel; to Egypt, a marvel, and to the church, a message. The burning bush in the desert was a symbol of the children of Israel in Egypt and also a symbol of the church in the world. The fiery flames of the Egyptian oppression and the centuries of affliction have not been able to consume or destroy Israel. The fiery flames of persecution or trials against the church have not consumed it either. If anything, it has purged all the inadequacies and weaknesses of the people of God.
Moreso, the true strength, substance and gold in the believer are brought out in the fire. The miraculous preservation of Israel in the fire of oppression is a continuous message to every Christian and to the church at large, that no matter how fiery the furnace of affliction, we shall overcome at the end. The devil does tell some lies in troublous times: that God is not with you and that you are finished. But God says He is with you even in the fire. And no fire of the devil’s making can consume or destroy a child of God. You will overcome and testify of the victory.
1. God’s Favour And Promise To The Chosen
Psalm 33:10-12; 1 Peter 2:9; Deuteronomy 26:17-19; Isaiah 43:2; Luke 1:70-75; 2 Peter 1:3,4; Psalm 97:10-12.
The children of Israel enjoyed divine favour and promises, because they were the chosen people of God. Even before the birth of Moses, Pharaoh had initiated a policy of destruction against the nation of Israel. He promulgated an edict that every male child born to the Israelites be drowned in the River Nile but it failed. True believers are now the chosen generation. To be part of the chosen people of God, the sinner must turn away from all sins and make Jesus his Lord and Saviour.
Thereafter, he enjoys God’s favour, mercy, love, grace and promise. His promises are for those who have turned away from sin, Satan, the pollution and corruption of the world and have surrendered their hearts to the Lord. As a consequence, “the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments”. The choice of the Lord on a life is not a one-way decision. The sinner’s part is to repent and God’s part is to receive him. Those who are thus saved are the burning bush that the fire of the enemy or his affliction will not be able to consume. The Lord has a covenant with the chosen. His plan and purpose for them must always be fulfilled.
Though the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, the mighty and unconquerable power of God kept the nation of Israel from being wiped out by them, His mercy and favour was upon them, He saved them from the hand of their enemies. The Lord also delivers the believer from sin and Satan to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of his life. Freed from sin, we are victorious because we belong to God. As we remember God’s holiness, faithfulness, goodness, mercy and promises, we should rejoice in the Lord.
2. Great Fire And Persecution Of The Church
Exodus 3:2-4; Psalm 66:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11,16-18; 6:1-10; 1 Peter 4:12-16,19; 5:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:18.
The burning bush was not consumed, because God was in the bush. Due to the presence of the divine personality among the Israelites, the fire of persecution, affliction, oppression and satanic difficulty could not consume them.
The testimonies of others are encouragement that the fire burning around you or your family will soon give way as it happened to those who have gone before us. Though there are persecutions, afflictions and difficulties in the world, the Almighty God will bring you “out into a wealthy place.” The time of trouble is the time to get nearer to the Lord and renew our commitment, consecration and vow to Him like Paul, who had the spirit of the conqueror, did. The fire of persecution, affliction, perplexity and difficulties may burn, but God’s people are neither consumed nor weakened because of the daily renewal of their inward man. The fire of the world cannot destroy genuine faith nor can it fight against God and win. But the believer must be watchful not to offend so that the ministry will not be blamed.
Discouragement often sets in when people focus on the fire and not on the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is difficult to understand the suffering of the righteous but the apostle Peter encourages continuity in righteousness. Look away from the fire and look up to God. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Our responsibilities during persecution and difficulties include: (i) prayer and pledge to continue to serve the Lord, (ii) peace and purity, (iii) patience and perseverance, (iv) purging and pruning, (v) purpose and passion, (vi) praise and power, (vii) progress and preservation.
3. God’s Faithfulness And Protection Of The Church
Exodus 3:2; Psalm 129:1,2; Lamentations 3:19-23; Daniel 3:19-25.
The Lord is faithful in protecting His people. In spite of sore afflictions, persecutions and troubles, God’s people always prevail. The Israelites and the early Church prevailed.
Our testimony as a church and as individuals who have been through persecution and fiery trials is, “. . . of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” The Lord’s faithfulness will continue to be real in the believer’s life as it was in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol in Babylon. As they stood for God, they overcame. Their persecutor’s fire could not consume them in the fiery furnace. Rather, only the men who threw them into it were consumed by the fire. The fire of affliction will not consume you. Like Nebuchadnezzar saw the three Hebrew children in the fire unhurt, your persecutors and adversaries will see that God is with you and you are unconquerable.
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