Acts 7:30 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.”
In reading Acts chapter 7, one finds Stephen giving a history lesson of the Jewish people starting with Abraham. As we come to our verse to DATE he has been telling us about the birth and early life of Moses. Our verse tells of a turning point in the life of Moses. Having spent 40 years in the wilderness, Moses has one of the most unique encounters with God as the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush. God was not finished with Moses.
It is worth noting that what will make this a turning point in the life of Moses is that Moses, upon seeing this burning bush that did not burn, turned aside to see it. Exodus 3:3 says, Then Moses said, ‘I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” Stephen will tell it in Acts 7:31 that “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him.”
Because Moses TURNED ASIDE, he would then hear God speak and give him the call to go and deliver his people for slavery. What a great moment.
While much can be gleaned from our verse, let us notice two things:
Notice first the time that is mentioned. It says, “Forty years had passed.” Hold that thought and notice secondly, the place: “In the wilderness of Mount Sinai.”
I am not sure how those two facts impact you, but I find both the length of time and the location of the place to be very unappealing. Who wants to wait 40 years, and who wants to wait 40 years in the wilderness? Yet after 40 years, God appeared to Moses in the wilderness. He was not finished with Moses.
On your DATE with this verse, you might presently be wondering if God is ever going to use you. You may wonder why it seems you have been placed in a “wilderness.” Take encouragement from the life of Moses. Be faithful where you are. Keep growing. Now listen – your greatest days of ministry, ministry that will be (are you listening) harder and more difficult, may still lie ahead. See, you might be thinking the wilderness is tough, but you need to know that when God does call, He will not call you to a bed of roses. Remember what Moses faced after this great moment. His life did not get easier. It got a lot harder.
Bottom line: after 40 years in the wilderness, God had a plan for Moses. God was not finished with Moses; He was just getting started. In a remote desert place, God revealed Himself and revealed a plan to Moses that changed the lives of millions. And He was able to reveal that plan because Moses TURNED ASIDE.
Stay sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Continue Strong, turning aside to see and hear what God is up to,
And remember to DATE the Word