I’ve been reading about Moses today, and noticed something I haven’t seen before (forgive me if this is obvious!)…

Exodus 3:1 is the pre-story before Moses has his famous encounter with God through the ‘burning bush’. God speaks to him about his future, about the plans He has for Moses to free the Israelites from the Egyptians, and to lead them to the Promised Land He has for them. If you don’t know the story, read all about it in Exodus, or if you are a true child of the era, watch The Prince of Egypt (I guess that will do for now!).

In verse 1 of Exodus 3, it says how Moses was tending after some sheep, and led them to ‘Horeb’. I read this today and wondered why? Why was it recorded that the burning bush was in Horeb specifically? Why did Moses lead the sheep there? Did he know where he was going? All we know from the passage is that he led the sheep there.

The name ‘Horeb’ means ‘desert’ and ‘desolation’. As my study notes say, it is around the Sinai peninsula, and is likely to be an alternative name to Sinai. Mount Sinai was where God gave the 10 Commandments to the Israelites years later. Isn’t it interesting that Moses was commissioned by God near the same place he would find himself in the future, when he would be in the middle of his mission! (well, its interesting to me anyway!). I don’t think this is a coincidence. I think that God intended to reveal Himself to Moses at this place, showing it as a ‘taster’ of Moses’ future. As he previously was a shepherd of sheep leading them to Sinai, he would later be a shepherd of the people leading them to the same place.

Currently, I feel as if I am in a place of being shown a ‘taster’ of my future. I have a fantastic opportunity to lead some volunteers at my church, and have recently started a Young Adults ministry. I love every bit of this, it is fun, satisfying, fulfilling, and so much more. However, I refuse to believe that this is the final place for my future role in God’s Kingdom. Infact, in all humility, and through the grace of God, I know its not the final place for me. God is showing me a small part about what He has for me in the future, and I am determined to make the most of it. Jesus said that “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” and I feel that this is relevant for the things I am involved with at the moment. God is showing me and providing me with this taster as he reveals my future step by step. Not only do I need to make the most of today, but enjoy the glimpses and possibilities that may lay ahead for me.

I encourage everybody to do the same. Look for the times when God may be giving you a ‘taster’ of the future. We may feel that we are walking to a random area of no consequence or doing something of no purpose or meaning, but at this place, God may want to reveal to you so much more than you can imagine. It may not look as obvious as a burning bush, so lets be alert and aware and astute to God’s voice. The taster we may be getting now may be different to what we ultimately want, but be content where you are now, and make sure you are trustworthy, so that you will be able to be trusted with much more in the future.