One Who Dwells in the Bush
by Josh Dickens
Reading through Deuteronomy 33, Moses’ last words to the people of Israel. Moses is speaking blessings over each of the tribes of Israel. When Moses gets to the tribe of Joseph in verse 16 he blesses them by “the favor of the One who dwells in the bush.” This causes me to pause and stop. The phrase set me back just a bit. It got me to thinking, “wow, out of all the names Moses personally knew for God he chose ‘the One who dwells in the bush’.” Why? So I underline it and ponder to myself that there is probably something to it, but keep reading anyway. However, something inside of me wouldn’t let me move on so easily. I just couldn’t get it out of my mind.
What was it that captured me so much? Was it that Moses and God had such a personal relationship when Moses referred to God’s name he referred to a personal encounter. It's kinda like Moses had a personal nickname for God. Same as close friends who have personal nicknames for each other. Nicknames typically have deeply personal backstories among friends. Therefore, I concluded that the application was to pursue a close personal relationship with God. To pursue knowing Him not just about Him, and while that is true it didn’t satisfy me. This truth seemed to be part of it, but it wasn’t all of it. There was still something more.
Then God started to reveal it to me, this phrase had everything to do with Moses’ relationship with God, but it goes so much deeper. Look at the story that phrase brought to mind and the context in which Moses is speaking it now to both God and Moses. First let’s look at Moses, at the time of the burning bush Moses wasn’t exactly courageous, fearless, or bold, but quite the opposite. I wonder if Moses at the bush would even recognize the man currently blessing Joseph’s descendants. Moses now speaks final blessings not only fluently, but poetically even. No doubt Moses at the bush wouldn't recognize the mighty Moses of the Exodus.
On the other side is the God of the bush. The other party to this historic relationship. God who, unlike Moses, has remained amazingly unchanged over the past 40 years. Just as amazing as speaking from a burning bush. Just as powerful. Just as demanding of his followers never taking no for an answer. Just as righteous. Just as true. Just as merciful. Just as steadfast. Just as gracious.
The phrase gives us 40 years of hindsight as an advantage. The advantage is we see two hearts revealed. One heart, the heart of God towards Moses. He calls and pursues and will not take no for an answer for his great and mighty redeeming plan. He sees something in Moses that isn’t there, so he takes it upon himself to put it inside of Him. His heart is good, so it doesn’t change.
However, Moses’ heart is also revealed for everything he has always tried to hide. All the insecurities make an appearance at the bush. Yet Moses finds that his unworthiness isn’t enough to keep God for his plan of redemption and wholeness for his people. At the bush, we are exposed by the brightly burning fire of God’s holiness. We do stand unworthy and incapable of God’s calling. Yet God invites us anyway. This God who dwells in the bush is the same God who came to us in Christ. This six-word phase is the gospel. God is still calling, and we are still unworthy. Yet through Christ, he continues to bring us into the fold and calls us on to something greater. Accept his invitation and let him have you. Give him those broken places inside of you that yell for cover and keep you out of a larger story. His heart is good, so he will not change, but you will.