S132P5 – Patterns in Exodus: timely revelation
Exo. 3:4-6
So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover 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 upon God.
It was the last night of the summer fair, and just about everyone in town had come out to watch the fireworks. So many of the kids from school were there, but it seemed he was the only one with his parents. They waited in line for the hall of mirrors, and he noticed the others kids go in by themselves. He decided that he also was big enough to go through it on his own, so his dad let him try. It started out fun, running through the place aimlessly and laughing at every reflection. Then, he started to feel lost. No matter which way he turned, he hit a dead end. Time seemed to stop, and the panic set in. Right at that moment, he felt a hand touch his shoulder and saw his father’s face reflected before him. Three turns later and they were free.
God’s children have had a history of finding themselves in bind after bind. Some of those sticky situations have been self-imposed. Others have been the product of persecution because of whom they serve. Regardless of the source of trouble, their cries have been ringing out daily for millennia. It can be difficult to pray and plead and cry and beg but see no change. Whether individually or collectively, we have sought his help on many occasions, and He responds the same way each time. The Lord waits until the time is right to reveal himself. He did so with Moses here, and He has done so many times in the scriptures. It seems like the eleventh hour has passed, and He enters in full glory, ready to lead the way to deliverance.
It was the case for the Israelites, and it often can be the case for us. God shows up, but deliverance does not come in that moment. He arrives, and we think this is it, but there is still work to be done. It took ten plagues for Pharaoh to let the people go, and he still pursued them afterward. Once behind the safety of the Red Sea, their freedom started to look worse than their captivity, and there was still work to be done in their hearts. The truth is that God always shows up at the right time, even if his revelation marks the beginning of a journey instead of its end. Father, help us to be faithful in waiting for You and in following your lead once You have spoken and directed us.