Exodus 3:1–6 (NIV)
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.' 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.' 5 'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.' 6 Then he said, 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.' At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Now we are in the second week of Advent. On the second Sunday of Advent, we remember Moses.
The ornament for today should represent Moses. It could be a burning bush or the Ten Commandments.
The story of Moses is found in the book of Exodus, as well as other books of the Bible. Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and guide them towards the Promised Land.
Moses' story begins when he was born during a time when the Pharaoh of Egypt ordered the killing of all Hebrew baby boys. Moses' mother, in an act of faith, placed him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile River. He was discovered by Pharaoh's daughter, who raised him as her own.
As Moses grew older, he became aware of his Hebrew heritage and witnessed the oppression of his people. In an act of justice, he killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew slave. Fearing punishment, Moses fled to the wilderness.
While in the wilderness, Moses encountered God through a burning bush. God called Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of bondage. Through a series of miraculous signs and plagues, Moses confronted Pharaoh and eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt during the event known as the Exodus.
During their journey through the wilderness, Moses received the Ten Commandments and other laws from God on Mount Sinai. He served as a mediator between God and the people, interceding on their behalf and leading them towards the Promised Land.
From this story, we can learn several important lessons. It teaches us about God's faithfulness and His desire to deliver His people from bondage. God heard the cries of the Israelites and raised up Moses as a leader to bring them out of slavery. It reminds us that God is aware of our struggles and is willing to intervene on our behalf.
Overall, the story of Moses teaches us about God's faithfulness, the importance of obedience and trust, the power of God's presence and provision, and the value of perseverance and faith. It encourages us to seek God's guidance, trust in His promises, and follow Him wholeheartedly in our own lives.
For further reading, check out the book of Exodus.