A Burning Bush and a Consuming Fire

By Danny Saavedra

“Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’”—Exodus 3:2–4 (NIV)

If you’ve ever felt like your life has been set aside, forgotten, or running on repeat, you’ll understand Moses. When we meet him in Exodus 3, he’s not leading anyone; he’s tending sheep in the desert. Once a prince of Egypt, now a fugitive with forty years of silence behind him. Every sunrise looked the same and every sunset brought the same burning question: Did I miss my purpose?

Then one day, in the middle of nowhere, God showed up. Moses saw a bush on fire that didn’t burn up, and when he went to investigate, God called his name. “Moses! Moses!” The same ground he had walked for years became holy ground. The presence of God turned this wilderness of wandering and wasting away into a pasture of purpose.

That’s what God’s presence does! He doesn’t just fill a place, He fills people. God’s voice didn’t just echo from the flames; it reverberated in Moses’ soul and ignited something inside him as the ordinary became sacred. The years that may have felt wasted or insignificant suddenly made sense in light of God’s redemptive plan.

Centuries later, that same holy fire appeared again—not in a bush, but in a baby. The Light of the world was born, and an ordinary stable became holy ground, because like with Jacob and with the burning bush, “the Lord is in this place.”

The Word became flesh so those walking in darkness might see the light, so that the lost might find life, and the broken might find belonging. The same God who spoke Moses’ name now speaks ours through His Son, offering true purpose, hope, and a future to all who would receive Him and believe in His name.

And when we believe in Him, that presence that burned in the wilderness and lit up the sky in Bethlehem burns within us and shines through us! Acts 2:1–4 (NIV, emphasis added) says, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.”

The fire that fell upon the world, the Holy Spirit of God who indwells us when we give our lives to Jesus, speaks to us and gives us purpose, power, peace, and hope just like He did in the burning bush with Moses. And because of the Spirit in us, everywhere we go—every hallway, every home, every hurting place—is holy ground for the Lord to accomplish His good and perfect purposes in the world!

Put It To Practice: Study

The Word of God is alive and active! Studying God’s Word differs from meditating on it because it involves making observations, asking questions, and thinking through real-life applications. When you study God’s Word, both individually and in community, the Holy Spirit will use it to instruct, encourage, convict, and guide you! Today, read Hebrews 11:24-28 to learn more about the faith of Moses.

For the Family

Today’s Main Idea: God’s presence gives us purpose and turns ordinary moments into holy ground.

Ask Together:

1. How can we notice when God is with us in ordinary moments, like at school or home?
2. What’s one way you can show God’s love and make an ordinary moment “holy ground” today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling Moses by name and for calling me, too. Thank You for coming near in Jesus and filling me with Your Spirit. Make every step I take holy ground for Your purpose. Burn in me with Your presence and shine through me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.