“THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD!”

 Exodus 3:1                                        (ESV)

“Now Moses was keeping THE FLOCK of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and HE LED HIS FLOCK to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, “THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD.”

Shepherding wasn’t, and never has been, considered a dream job or profession.  Keep in mind, Moses was “on the run” since he killed an Egyptian who was beating a fellow Israelite.  He ran to Midian in an effort to hide from punishment from Pharaoh.  He was tending THE FLOCK of his father-in-law, Jethro, who was the priest of Midian.  Through the sovereignty of GOD ALMIGHTY, Moses was led “to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, “THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD”.  

Moses had to have been trusted by Jethro, for having THE FLOCK entrusted by their owner as their well-being was in the hands of the shepherd.  He was responsible for finding grass, water, and shelter for THE FLOCK, and Moses apparently felt that Mount Horeb, “THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD” was where he needed to be. HE LED HIS FLOCK to Horeb where he could HEAR the Spirit of GOD speaking to him.  To make sure that he KNEW it was GOD speaking to him, GOD caused a fire to appear in a bush, but the bush was not consumed!  

Moses wasn’t prepared for what happened next.  Exodus 3:3-6 tells us, 

“And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, GOD called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And HE said, “Here I am.” Then HE said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And HE said, “I AM the GOD of your father, the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at GOD.”  

While Shepherding could have been mistaken for a lonely, desolate lifestyle, ALMIGHTY GOD CHOSE Moses, even though he was a murderer, a man fleeing from his past, to lead HIS Children out of bondage and to HIS Promised Land.  A man who was assigned to care for some of the most helpless creatures GOD CREATED was being CHOSEN to lead HIS CHOSEN people to FREEDOM.  

The CREATOR loves HIS CHOSEN immensely, so much so that HE FREELY GAVE HIS ONLY SON for our redemption.  GOD also “groomed” Moses to lead HIS CHOSEN through the wilderness, a place Moses was well familiar with because of his time in Midian.  When we get frustrated with our surroundings, we need to remember that ALMIGHTY GOD has a PLAN, and we are simply being used to GLORIFY HIM!  “THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD” is about HIM, NOT ABOUT US!!!