Day 30—Tuesday, March 24

Exodus 3:1-4

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jetho 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. 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. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight–why the bush does not burn up.”

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.”

I am struck by moments of simplicity within this passage. Simplicity from which this passage starts with Moses in the fields keeping watch over his flock of sheep. Yet in three simple words, he is willing to shift from his role as shepherd to become more sheep-like: “Here I am.”

Moses makes himself as plainly visible as possible. He did not use this moment to highlight his shepherding accomplishments, show off his latest crook, or brag about the magnitude of this flock. His simple response “Here I am” seems to reflect an appreciation for being found and a willingness to be led. I imagine a lost sheep that has been found might respond to its shepherd with a similar response.

According to my NIV bible, the irony of this passage is that God was already leading, shaping, teaching, and molding Moses in the ways of becoming a leader, living in the desert, and living life as a shepherd (or nomad)...and he didn’t even know it yet. While his early life as an Egyptian prince sharply contrasted life as a shepherd, he still responded when God called to him like a sheep: “Here I am.” God guided Moses’ shepherd life to ultimately prepare him for his later-life role as a shepherd of people.

In reflection, are you in your sheep era? Or are you in a shepherd phase of life? Do these words come easily to you: “Here I am.”? And are you responding in accordance as a sheep or shepherd?

Prayer: Lord, Here I am….(use this moment to be mindfully present, listen and reflect)...here I am.

-Anne Newman