Unhurried: A 5-Day Challenge to Slow Your Pace and Fix Your Eyes on JesusSýnishorn

Turn Aside

Many divine encounters detailed in the Word of God occur only when someone detours from their plan or experiences the unexpected.

We read in Exodus 3 that after murdering an Egyptian, fleeing to Midian, and marrying Zipporah, Moses made his plans for the day. His plans involved sheep, lots of sheep. Exodus 3 begins with Moses leading the flock—not a quick activity to check off the to-do list— through the wilderness toward Horeb, the “mountain of God.” Maybe you know what happened next: seeing a flame, Moses went nearer to inspect what was burning. He saw a bush that appeared to be on fire, yet . . . he probably crept closer to get a better look. To his surprise, instead of a pile of burnt wood and ashes, he saw a healthy bush burning—actually on fire, but still living, not eaten up by the flames.

So often in this story, we get caught up picturing the burning bush and trying to imagine what it might have looked like, and we miss what Moses does.

“I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned” (Ex. 3:3). Moses turned aside. In other words, he stuck around and checked it out. He stopped, looked, and realized though the bush was burning, it was not consumed. Moses gave the bush his full attention.

He could’ve kept going, thinking to himself how he doesn’t have time to stop. He could’ve ignored the fire, thinking it was dangerous or someone else’s problem. He could’ve even turned around to go get someone else to come and see.

Instead, he turned aside. And it was only when the Lord saw that Moses turned—that he had gone over to look—that He called out to him. “Moses, Moses!”

He responded, “Here I am.”

What do you do when the Lord speaks? Do you stick around and check it out? Moses’ plans were secondary to what the Lord had planned for him.

When you sense the Spirit urging you to start a conversation with the woman in the grocery store who looks lonely, do you stop and turn to her, or do you keep pushing your cart on your mission to grab what you need and leave as quickly as possible? When your child asks an important question, or a spiritual one, do you stop, listen, pray, and answer intentionally, or do you brush it off and make a mental note to address it later? When God asks you to give that extra twenty-dollar bill in your wallet, do you stop and give immediately and joyfully, or do you resist, making excuses for why you need it more?

When Moses finally decided to lay His plans and fears aside and obey the Lord, God used him to deliver Israel from bondage in Egypt. How will God use you when you finally lay your plans and fears aside?

Today’s Challenge: Know the Father’s Voice

If we are to respond when the Lord asks us to stop or detour, we must know His voice. This involves spending time in prayer and reading His Word. The more time we spend with Him, the easier it will be to discern His will. Today, your challenge is to spend dedicated time reading the Bible and asking God to help you know Him more.

After Reading the Passages, Answer:

1. What does this teach me about God?
2. How should I order my days as a result?