Sunday's Old Tesament reading about Moses and the burning bush had two elements that are unknown by many Christians. Recall how Moses approached the burning bush, Yahwey spoke to him. The great leader of the Isrealites was to remove his shoes before speaking with God. This probably did not mean much to most of the hearers this past Sunday. Does it have a specific point we might consider. Yes. The traditions of the times demanded that anyone approaching a person of authority was to remove his/her sandals or shoes. It was to be a sign of respect for the authority of the individual about to be met. The one wearing the sandals was to be recognized as the one in charge, the one with the control. The one invested with a very distinct authority.
If you have a small prayer space that you use regularly, try removing your shoes or slippers before entering your sacred space. If you are aware of this Old Testament practice, you might sense an unusual awareness of humility, of your human nature before the divine.
The second issue that might not be fully understood: why didn't the flames consume the bush? Likewise Old Testament times maintained that any of the gods who visited someone or something usually destroyed that person or thing ... like it was evaporated. Our Creator God did not allow the material of the bush to burn so as to demonstrate that he is a God who wants to be with his people, that he will not destroy those with whom he speaks. He is teaching us that Yahweh is a caring, a loving God
