I have been spending time in Exodus 3 again. I feel the Holy Spirit nudging me to share from these notes I have on Moses before the burning bush. If you haven’t read it in a while (or ever), the 3rd chapter of Exodus is less than a 2-minute read, but here’s some of my thoughts on the chapter as they apply to our lives today.

Moses wasn’t looking for a calling. He was tending sheep, living in exile, far removed from the palaces of Egypt and the painful memories of his past. He probably thought his chance to make a difference in his life was long gone, but God had other plans.

God met Moses in the wilderness, in an ordinary moment, through an extraordinary sign – a bush on fire, “yet not consumed.” From the flames came a voice not just to comfort Moses, but to commission him. God didn’t just speak to Moses about what He planned to do, He invited Moses to be part of it.

Here is some of what I’ve gleaned for us from this latest time in Exodus 3:

1. God still speaks from the “bushes” of our lives. Your burning bush may not be literal, but it could be the stirring in your heart when you see injustice, a persistent thought that won’t leave you alone, or a need in your community you can’t ignore. Don’t overlook the places where God might be calling out for you to respond.

2. God sees, hears, and cares. It can sometimes feel like the world is moving so fast and nobody really cares. In verse 7, God says, “I have seen…I have heard…I am concerned…” If you are struggling, God sees you. Take your concerns to Him because He cares for you. If you are overwhelmed by the suffering of others, you can take those concerns to Him, too, knowing that God is not distant. He is involved. We may not see or understand how or why yet, but we can be sure that our God sees, hears, and cares.

3. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Moses asked in verse 11, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God responds not with, “Just do as I say!” or some kind of coachy pep talk, but with a simple, “I’ll be with you.” And He is. God is with us. If God is calling you to something,  He will not abandon you in it. God finishes the work He sets out to do, and He qualifies the called.

4. Our obedience becomes someone else’s freedom. God called Moses to liberate a nation. You may not lead an exodus, but your faithfulness, your “yes” to God, can help deliver someone else from isolation, despair, or spiritual darkness. Your obedience matters more than you know.

Today, this fast-paced world can feel uncertain, messed up, noisy. When we consider a call from God, many of us feel disqualified – too flawed, too old, too young, too busy – yet God still calls. He still sees the suffering. He still hears the cries. He still sends ordinary people to be part of His plan. If He calls you to it, He’ll get you through it.

We need each other. We were made for community, wired for relationships. What might God be calling you to? You don’t have to be perfect to be called. You just have to be available. God doesn’t need you to be ready… He needs you to be willing.