January 19, 2021

Turn Aside
Exodus 3:3-4 (NKJV)
Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
The account of Moses and the burning bush is a familiar passage. A bush on fire and yet does not burn. Incredible! At least Moses thought so. Moses’ life was interrupted that day and set on a path by God that would change history. But, what if Moses hadn’t turned aside?
Let us not hurry past this passage from familiarity and miss this particular point. When did God call, “Moses, Moses!”? Was it not after He saw that Moses had turned aside? This is worth highlighting. There may be Christians today wondering where God is and why He isn’t speaking to them. Perhaps God is waiting for them to turn aside. And yet distractions are all around us, especially during this time of political turmoil and a global pandemic we find ourselves in today. There is much that takes hold of our focus and attention.
Therefore, let us commit our way as Moses and say as he did, “I will now turn aside.” Perhaps once we turn aside from the distractions of the world and daily life and look to Christ our Savior that we will find ourselves standing on holy ground saying, “Here I am” for we will hear His voice as we look into His Word and seek to apply it to our lives.
Consider the thoughts of A.W. Tozer:
“Many have found the secret of which I speak and, without giving much thought to what is going on within them, constantly practice this habit of inwardly gazing upon God. They know that something inside their hearts sees God. Even when they are compelled to withdraw their conscious attention in order to engage in earthly affairs there is within them a secret communion always going on. Let their attention but be released for a moment from necessary business and it flies at once to God again.” – The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer
Where is your “holy ground” where you, like Moses, meet with God? Is it at the kitchen table early in the morning with a cup of coffee and an open Bible? Is it when the children are taking their nap that you are able to find some quiet time with the LORD? Or could it be small opportunities throughout the busy day where you can break away (turn aside) from the distractions and rush to the mountain of God to hear a bit more from Him in prayer and meditation on His Word? Let us today make a conscience effort to turn aside if we are able. We might be surprised at what the LORD has to say.