In Florida, we often have controlled burns on vast areas of forest to reduce dead organic matter on the forest floor. These fires are scheduled, closely monitored and tended. They decrease the amount of fuel available if during the dry season, an unexpected fire was to occur. Another term for this is “prescribed fire.” To prescribe the fire is to advise and authorize the use of what is normally destructive, but instead, can increase growth, enrich the soil, and actually regenerate life. The ultimate goal of these prescribed fires is the health of the forest. If a forest is too densely packed, competition can impede new growth. By using a prescribed burn, often a forest becomes more resilient to fire and in turn, healthier and more productive. In the natural, a prescribed fire leaves evidence that it has been changed and so it is with a spiritually prescribed burn from the Father above. 

Biblically, we have two examples of spiritually prescribed fire. The first is found in Exodus 3, when a prescribed burn was sent to draw Moses to God. The second, is found in Daniel 3, when Nebuchadnezzar prescribed fire; but God had other plans and used it to demonstrate the true King’s greater power over the power of an earthly king. Any man can use fire to burn– but only God could command fire to preserve. We’re going to focus on the first instance because it sets the precedent. In theology, this is called the protoevangelium or “the law of first mention.” 

For most of us, the day we gave our life to Jesus Christ was unexpected. I know I didn’t wake up on that August morning and say, “Today I’m going to choose to surrender my heart to God.” But at an unknown time to me, the Lord’s appointed time to meet with me came, and His presence came over me, and I laid myself bare at His feet. My life has never been the same.    

So too Moses had been doing his own thing and it was a day like any other day for him, but God had plans to redeem his life. Remember, Moses had killed an Egyptian and it was known that he had. He was a wanted man when he fled to Midian. In the place he fled to, God was waiting to give him a wife and a new life. There was a process for Moses to become who he was destined to be in God’s plans and purpose for him. 

Exodus 3:1-15 NLT

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5 “Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey–the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob–has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”

There was a process for Moses’ life to be regenerated. Moses had no clue, but the Lord knew that Moses’ curiosity was the catalyst for this change to begin. Moses immediately wanted to go straight to the fire to see why the bush wasn’t consumed. It was then the Lord called his name. This was both to establish Moses’ attention to hear and listen, and secondly, to establish the Lord’s recognition of Moses.

There’s a difference between hearing and listening. We can hear a sound and not be able to distinguish it properly to recognize what it is or where it’s coming from. How much more this applies in the spiritual! Things constantly get in the way and impede the clarity of God’s voice. In fact, it’s the goal of the enemy to do such. 

HEAR: to perceive with the ear the sound made by someone or something

LISTEN: to give attention with the ear to sound

There is an action involved on our part to LISTEN; we must give attention!

Moses’ focus was first on the appearance of the fire, but it wasn’t about the fire– it was about THE VOICE IN the fire. In a spiritual prescribed burn, the point of it is to hear the voice of the Lord speaking directly to us. Moses indeed heard his name called and answered the Lord, but he also reacted to the voice in an unwanted action. We too can HEAR the Lord call us and we get so excited that we can proceed in action before we LISTEN to God’s instructions to explain the calling. When God calls, be assured, instruction is coming; direction is going to be given. Therefore Moses’ impulsive action caused the warning to come instantly – “Don’t come any closer. Take off your shoes because you’re standing on holy ground.” Nothing had changed about the ground itself. It was the fire and the presence that had changed the status of the ground and Moses needed to know that it was now different. Then came God’s introduction of who He was. “I am the God of your father–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” God was essentially telling him, “remember who you are Moses!” It was then that he realized with godly fear what was happening. The bush, burning with fire and yet unscathed, was just to garner attention; but it was the knowing who was speaking to him that brought the reverence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Now God knew that Moses was ready to receive instruction.  

David wrote of this in Psalms and how often we need to be reminded of both who we are in Him and who HE is. Psalm 46:10,11 Be still, and know that I AM God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Selah is a pause– it’s a moment of silence. It’s a moment of quiet recognition in exaltation. It’s like when you see something beautiful and you remark, “it’s breathtaking,” because the sight has caused you to be still and to take it in. What God spoke to Moses was preparing him for all that God was about to use him for. 

Look at the breakdown of what the Lord revealed in the first conversation:

First, where I AM, it is holy. (3:5)

Second, know who I AM. (3:6)

Third, remember who you are in Me. (3:6)

Fourth, I have seen and heard all the peoples burdens and troubles. (3:7)

Fifth, I am a God of deliverance. (3:8)

Sixth, I am a provider. (3:8)

Seventh, I see and hear you. (3:9)

As Moses and the Israelites would journey in the wilderness, these are the names of God that would be revealed during the 40 years: 

• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH Nissi – The Lord my Banner (Ex 17:15); 
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH Rapha – The Lord that heals (Ex 15:26)
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH Mekoddishkem (Miqodesh) – The Lord that makes holy (Ex 31:13); 
• QANNA – Jealous (Ex 20:5)(Ex 34:14) (Deut 4:24 – For the LORD thy GOD is a consuming fire, even a jealous GOD.) 

Recall that the Lord had introduced Himself to Moses as “the GOD of your father: the GOD of Abraham (“father of many nations”), the GOD of Isaac (“He laughs”), and the GOD of Jacob (“supplanter”).” Throughout those generations, God had already revealed Himself in name to introduce aspects of His character. These were the names of God that He had already revealed:

• Elohim A plural singular; God of strength and power in all aspects of creation
• El Shaddai GOD Almighty (Gen 17:1; Gen 28:3; Gen 35:11; Gen 43:14; Gen 48:3)
• El Elyon The Most High GOD (Gen 14:18-20,22)
• Adonai LORD (Gen 15:2)
• El Ro’i The God who sees me (Gen 16:13)
• El Olam Everlasting/Eternal God (Gen 21:33)
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH Jireh The Lord will provide / the Lord has seen (a need) (Gen 22:14)

We can see that in reminding Moses of who he was in lineage, he was reminded of who God was and had been to generations past. God also spoke of the aspects of His character that would be revealed in name through the journey Moses would embark upon with the Israelites in the wilderness. In essence, God revealed here: “I am the One who is, the One who was, and the One who is to come.” At the burning bush, the place of the prescribed fire, God was preparing Moses for what was ahead.

How many of these names has God revealed to you personally of who He is?

Consider that after the Lord’s introduction of Himself, God told Moses what He wanted him to do. Moses, having just interacted with a holy God on mount Horeb– God who spoke to him out of a bush that was burning and yet not consumed, essentially says, “BUT who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Have you ever been called to do something and responded with “BUT….” to God?

Our patient and kind Lord reassures Moses that He will be with him. Moses seemed to have already forgotten the seven things God had revealed. How frequently we have to be reminded of who GOD is! If we could only truly resolve in our minds, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” [Malachi 3:6] Without the prescribed fire, which revealed to Moses who God was and who Moses was to be in Him, the children of Israel wouldn’t have made the journey to the Promised Land. It was out of the deviations of what God wanted them to do, that so much hardship came upon them, far more than He desired. The prescribed fire of the burning bush was simply a sneak preview of what would transpire on Mt. Sinai. The law was received and Moses had to remind the people in [Deuteronomy 5:24-27] And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. 25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. 26 For who [is there of] all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived? 27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear [it], and do [it]. Imagine if God did not show us mercy and kindness; if He wasn’t compassionate and full of grace when we make an excuse. In Hebrew, the word chesed (khe-said) sums up all of those characteristics into one word. How often do we prove God’s chesed towards us! How often do our actions cause God to pivot to accommodate our choice over His desire? Think back to the names Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God is the Father of many nations; He laughs. [Ps 37:11-13] says, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plot against the just, and gnash upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming.” We need to be meek and mild and do as the Lord has asked of us. In doing this, we will inherit the earth someday but we will be delighted in the abundance of peace. God’s plans bring peace. When we bring out the excuses or act stubborn and try to sway God from His plans, we’re just as Jacob, the supplanter; we are the someone that takes the place of someone else, through force, cunning, or strategy, and that someone else is God.

Has there been a time when your deviation from God’s instruction has resulted in hardship? 

The prescribed fire at the burning bush led to the number of those who entered into the Promised Land to be far less than what had started out, because they refused to hear the voice. In Exodus 20:19, “And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” These would die anyway because they were already dead, having not received the truth God had given. They were simply organic matter impeding new growth. The “old dried brush” generations died out. Those resistant generations were “burned away” so that the new could spring forth. Those who were resistant to receive what God had in store, failed to recognize that what He had coming was exceedingly greater than what was left behind in Egypt. It can be easy in this world, (spiritual Egypt) to see the physical and not think of the spiritual. Choosing what God wants often and usually isn’t what our flesh wants to do– it is truly a free will sacrifice on our part. We must choose what God desires over self indulgence and know that what He has in store is beyond anything this world has to offer.  When we look to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we can see this directly reflected. 

Daniel 3:28-30

[Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Isaiah 43:1-11 

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called [you] by your name; You [are] Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I [will be] with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I [am] the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I [am] with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth– 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him. 8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, ‘It is truth.’ 10 “You [are] My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I [am] He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, [even] I, [am] the LORD, And besides Me [there is] no savior.

Serve the King willingly in all things. Even when it’s a prescribed fire.

-CC