14 Aug The Burning Bush – Popular Shrub
Looking Towards Sunday
Friends,
You’re familiar with the story of Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5). Maybe you’re also familiar with the fact that burning bush (Euonymous alatus in Latin) is a popular shrub that shows brilliant red foliage in the fall; grows easily; and gets massive at maturity. Since we’ve been so steeped in the sermon series these past two weeks, I’ve seen that sacred story in a different light. It looks something like this:
Moses was garden tasking atop the mountain of God (rather than keeping the flock of his father-in-law). Moses had snipping shears instead of a shepherd’s staff; and he was poised to start shaping the oversized shrub. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the bush. He looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.
Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the shrub is not scorched.” When God saw that Moses had turned aside to see, God called to him, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
Then God said, “Come no closer because you are about to make a terrible mistake! You can’t just cut off branches and buds carelessly. You have to keep a few tips in mind when you’re gardening God’s way. There are certain pruning principles that you have to practice.”
I’ll say more when I see you Sunday!
Blessings meantime,
Rev. Fredd