Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate
on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only
then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8
One day Moses was tending the flock of his
father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the
wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD
appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in
amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up.
"This is amazing," Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush
burning up? I must go see it." When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a
closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses!
Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. "Do not come any closer,"
the LORD warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy
ground. I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he
was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD told him, "I have certainly seen
the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress
because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I
have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out
of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with
milk and honey--the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,
Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has
reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I
am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt." Exodus
3:1-10
 |
| Remove your sandals. You are standing on Holy Ground. |
Moses didn’t have to wear a mask when God
called to him from the burning bush. He was privileged to talk to God almost
face to face. When he heard that it was the God of his ancestors talking to
him, he covered his face. Likely he didn’t have a face mask handy, but a scarf
was part of his desert attire. Scarfs would have been essential to cover one’s
face when the desert sands were blowing. He may have just put his hands up to
his face…covering his eyes. He felt unworthy to look upon the Lord. God didn’t
tell him to hide his eyes…just to take
off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. Holy ground.
Moses was afraid to look at the Lord. A
couple of scripture passages tell us that no one has ever seen the Lord God.
No one has ever seen God. But the unique
One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to
us. John 1:18 NLT
No one has ever seen God. But if we love
each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
1 John 4:12 NLT
No one has
seen God—but if we love each other, God
lives in us and it flows through us to others. Let us love one another.
Have a conversation—a prayer with God. Don’t just talk to Him…listen to what He
has to say to you in His word. And then let His love flow through you to others
as you speak to them about God…face to face…or wearing a mask as appropriate
today.
Prayer
~ Lord God, as we stand before You, like Moses, we are standing on Holy Ground—for
You are Holy. May we hear Your voice clearly and follow what You direct us to
do as we read and study Your Holy Word. Obedience is the key. Thank You for
loving us so that we can love others…for You.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your
name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Psalm 79:9
©
2020 Text and painting by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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