QT 22 Feb 16, Ex 3:1-4, God expects us to explore his creation

Exodus 3:1–4 (RSV)

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.”

NOTE: God reaches out to Moses in an unusual manner. Rather than calling him first, he provides a sign that captures Moses' curiosity. Then when Moses comes seeking, he calls Moses by name. I'm not sure if there is a principle here or if this was just a very unique manner in which God worked with a person. If there was a principle, it would be that God works with people who are seekers, truth-seekers. It does matter to us when things are not right. While we walk by faith, we seek to see and to understand God's hand in our universe. We question the things that don't make sense. We seek answers through observation and research. We don't, as we are often accused, accept life at face value. We are curious and we love to explore. There is no dichotomy between science and faith in our minds, only in the minds of the skeptics and of those who mock faith. We desire to understand God and the universe that he created for us. God created us with minds to use.