When There’s No Burning Bush

By Travis Jost

The awe-inspiring miracle of the burning bush in Moses’ story certainly gets my attention. I would sum up the Exodus 3 account with the salacious headline: “Bush on fire calls man by name.” However, the most inspiring aspect of the story is, in my opinion, not the miracle itself but the interaction between Moses and God.

After God gets Moses’ attention through the visual gesture of a burning bush, Moses is obviously curious. Verse four says, “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” to which he responds with an open posture, “Here I am.” 

As God proceeds to identify himself and to instruct, encourage, and empower Moses, the man is fully engaged in the interaction, yet he also expresses his doubts and fears — important to note.

Looking back on my journey from a banking career in Kansas to living in Burundi, Africa, I can see parallels to this story. Selfishly, I wanted a burning bush moment. I remember asking God, “If I’m standing before a bush on fire and it’s not burning up and it’s talking to me, I’ll do whatever it says. No questions. Help me out, Lord. Please, I’m asking.”

Looking for a sign

In the fall of 2016, I wanted a clear sign for my next step. I was well along in my professional career, and I was successful and comfortable. But then I found myself at an event hosted by Multiply. I was quick to disqualify myself from embracing this type of event, but I did want something more of God and my curiosity pushed me through the tension to take a step forward.

I felt wholly out of place at the event because of my imposed expectations, but I was still engaged. During the small group time, our leader asked the group, “What seems impossible to you?” 

I blurted out: “Living in a foreign country with no job seems impossible to me.”

I knew it was a bizarre reply. I was asking myself, Is that why I’m attending this event? Is that the goal here? The analytical, practical, linear-thinking banker in me was perplexed. I didn’t know what I was saying, but that was my response.

After the event, I realized I never got my burning bush. I had a litany of scrambled thoughts and not much clarity. My only response was to proclaim, “Lord, I’m available.” It wasn’t until later in my journey that I saw the parallel with Moses’ response, “Here I am.”

At a crossroads

Soon after, I found myself navigating the interview process with Multiply and I was at a retreat center in northern Washington, surrounded by towering pine trees, tumbling rivers, soft grass, cooler temperatures, and several nature trails.

During the multiple-day interview, participants were led into an intentional time of silence focused solely on hearing from God. No talking with other participants or staff or guests. This was a new experience for me.

I was led on a walk. Instead of basking in the natural beauty curated on the property, I decided to venture outside the campus. I retraced the mile-long driveway leading to the property. Halfway along my walk, I thought to myself, This is foolish. Why are you out here? You could be hiking and enjoying the nature trails and instead you’re on this pavement, walking next to soggy, uninspiring grasslands.

Yet I continued. The end of the driveway intersected a road with options to turn right or left. I did neither. I crossed the intersection and stood under a tree. As I turned to face the road I had just walked down, a road sign caught my attention: “Dead End.”

I felt God saying to me, “You can’t go back the way you came. You can’t go back to the life you were living. That way is a dead end.”

I was at a crossroads. The road to my right was obscured with many peaks and valleys. To me, this represented an adventurous path full of unknowns. The road to my left was evident with a long downward slope which turned to the left at the bottom of the hill. To me, this represented a familiar path of security and comfort. Which path appealed to me?

In the silence, God was definitely speaking to me, but his voice was not audible, and nothing was burning. My God and I were responding in kind, sharing thoughts and feelings. I expressed my doubts, but stayed engaged. I wanted to get to the next step, but did not know what that meant.

If I can’t go back, where do I go? The time of solitude with God opened me to his response. Away from the praise and affirmation that I sought from humans, I needed him to tell me. I needed time with him to fully listen. It was just like the Moses story — an honest conversation with God.

God speaks clearly

My biggest fear during my journey was missing what God had for me. I had put a lot of pressure on myself to experience the burning bush. I did not want to miss it. I expected it to be blazing and speaking English!

Further along, God used others to speak to me. During my training time with Multiply, I was invited to accept an assignment in Burundi. It stood alone. I called a mentor of mine to weigh this invitation. After some discussion, he asked, “Do you have any other options?” I thought for a moment and then answered, “Nope.”

Through his question and my response, I could hear what God was saying. It was clear. Burundi was the place. What more did I need to hear? What was I waiting for? I wanted Moses’ burning bush moment, but I came to realize my response was his desire.

The more I journey with our creative God, the more I embrace the response: his and mine. The God of mystery who shaped the mountains, who created the wind reveals his thoughts to me. My act of obedience is my response: physical, verbal, prayerful, hopeful. As I honour my relationship with God through my response, he leads me into the places he has prepared for me.

Originally published at multiply.net. Used with permission.