Consider for a moment the familiar incident of Moses seeing the burning bush...a moment that dramatically changed his life. Exodus chapter 3 records that Moses was intrigued by the sight of a bush with flames, but not burning up. As a result of this unusual occurrence, he stopped to check it out.

We've been instructed that a bush burning in the desert was not entirely unique. It happened. What was unique about this fire was that the bush was not consumed by the fire. It was that uniqueness that caused Moses to turn aside in order to observe more closely what was really happening

Verse 4 states that when the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, he spoke to him in that situation. We could speculate that if Moses had not taken the time to observe more closely, God would not have spoken. But...Moses did pause from whatever he was doing...came closer...observed...listened...and heard from God.

I'm wondering if maybe God seeks to use similar situations in our lives to see if we'll come closer...observe...listen...so he can speak to us. It's probably not an actual burning bush...but what could it be?

A health issue...something not out of the ordinary...but uncommon enough to get our attention. Could it be an opportunity for us to consider that God may want to say something from inside the health concern.
A financial issue...not entirely uncommon, but certainly a time for us to stop and ask if God may be wanting to say something that we haven't taken time to listen for since things were going normal.
A family issue...some hurt, some question, some disappointment, some change in relationship that could be used to get our attention and cause us to stop and ask if maybe God is trying to say something we haven't heard previously.
Perhaps a new relationship has developed...something unexpected...someone God has brought into our life to deliver a new message we haven't been open to before.
What about a change in our job situation...for the better or something not too good...nevertheless, it is a moment to cause us to listen...to ask if God is saying something regarding our future that we haven't thought of until now.
Or maybe we've just become aware of a new ministry opportunity, but it is definitely out of the ordinary. We like what we think it could become, but it's not something we have been preparing for or even think we are prepared to do. It can be a moment to "turn aside"...to ask if God may be trying to say something we weren't ready to hear before.

Of course I'm not implying that God is waiting to give us a life-changing message in every circumstance of life. But taking a moment to turn aside...to stop and listen...when we do encounter things, not entirely uncommon, but unique...something different...something that gets our attention...something that causes us to wonder...to question...to say, "Father...I'm listening."

Any "burning bushes" in recent months? If so...were you able to turn aside and listen? Or there may be some coming in the not too distant future. Isn't it exciting...maybe a little scary...but really fulfilling to consider what our incredible, loving, caring heavenly Father might be trying to say about our future!