“After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush.” Acts 7:30 (AMP)
“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 did not burn up.”Exodus 3:1-2 (NLT)
Moses had a season in his life when things changed quickly and then settled for some time. He went from being a prince to being a shepherd. As we study the Bible, we learn the patterns God desires for His people.
One important pattern is solitude.
Better yet, let us call it a lifestyle. Unfortunately, we often do not add solitude or even consider the importance of how much it can benefit us. When Moses was forced out of Egypt, his adventure into the wilderness became a curse and a blessing. The curse was being away from his family for 40 years, but the blessing was moving closer to God through solitude.
God knows when we are in a place for listening and receiving His instructions for the next season of our life. I do not know why it took 40 years for the burning bush to appear, but it was during a time of forced solitude that Moses got the message.
In my experience, I have learned through some forced solitude to make it a lifestyle. I did a lot of getting away in the month of July. I did a lot of thinking and listening, and it was an exceptionally good time for me. I am so grateful to have a church body that encourages me to get away. I was confident of the team in place. They are all more than qualified to care for you all.
I cannot tell you that a bush appeared to me, but I can tell you that a deer appeared to me in Redding, California, and in Mammoth, California. That deer was alone, longing for water, and was able to find it. “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” Psalms 42:1 (NLT)
Church, let us long for God and let our soul thirst for God as we continue to get away in those solitude moments so we can hear Him, see Him, and be satisfied with Him only.
Trek on! God is on the move. The blessings of great things are before us. Be excited about our next New Season.