| Subject: Burning but not Burned |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 20:06:11 06/09/15 Tue
Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
God never does anything without a reason. We may not always know His reason but He nevertheless does nothing carelessly. As we are presented with the account of Moses coming upon the burning bush on the Mountain of God, Horeb, we are prone to wonder what the significance of this burning bush is. Many times in scriptures God presents us with objects that represent spiritual truths. Think about the ark of Noah. What did it represent? It represented the safety found in Jesus Christ. Just as Noah was sealed in the ark we are sealed in Jesus. Just as all who were in the ark were secure all of us in Jesus Christ are secure.
The Ark of the Covenant is also a picture of Jesus Christ and His work. When God commanded Moses to make the ark of the covenant and place therein as a witness the Ten Commandments, the Manna and Aaron's almond rod that budded (Heb. 9:4), He was giving us a picture of Jesus Christ and His work.
Jesus was the fulfilling of the law (Matt. 5:17). Jesus was the manna (John 6:49-51)The almond rod was a dead stick yet it budded into life. Jesus is the resurrection (Jn. 11:25). Just as these are pictures the burning bush also pictures something. I believe foremost it shows forth the chosen people, the nation of Israel and the Jews going through the fires of adversity but never being consumed. Israel chose a six sided star for their emblem (See Amos 5:26 and Acts 7:43) but God was certainly not in this emblem. God is plain that it is the emblem of an idol god and is not in fact the "Star of David". Since Egypt and the subsequent exodus to the promised land this tiny nation of people has been a target for Satan. Think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire without being consumed (Dan. 3:19-27). The burning bush then primarily shows the truth that God's people can go through the fires of adversity and persecution without being consumed.
To a lesser degree and in a spiritual sense the burning bush shows the nature of the Spirit of God within the servant of God. Jeremiah said one time: "Then I said, I will not make mention of him (God), nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (Jeremiah 20:9 ) The fire just wouldn't go out in Jeremiah's heart. Jeremiah was so down and out with his troubles because of his faithfulness to the Lord and the persecution he received because of it that he decided to quit. The problem was, he couldn't put the fire out. It just wouldn't burn out no matter how hard he tried.
There is a lesson in this for all of God's children who serve Him. Times will get hard. We will suffer persecution in many forms. We will at times say we are "burned out" but the truth of the matter is that that fire, while burning large at times and small at other times, will not go out.
David said one time: Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. ( Psalms 71:18) David never found a stopping place from being a witness to the greatness of God until God took him home. David, as the Apostle Paul just couldn't find a stopping place until he drew his last breath.
Elihu in the Book of Job found that he couldn't keep quiet when it was needful for him to speak. Job 32:18-20 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. 19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. Elihu was going to have to speak out or burst! The flame had continued to burn in him higher and higher as he listened to Job and his three "friends" and when they finished speaking he could contain himself no longer.
Even when the fire within has burned down to a small ember all it takes is for the Spirit of God to blow on it a little and it will blaze up into a flame that cannot be contained. So hot will be the Spirit of God burning within that the only relief is to follow God's will.
Just as the flames of a fire burn at different intensities, depending on the fuel and air at a given time, it is so with the servant of God. There is always a fire and it only takes the "wind of God" to reveal it's true potential.
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