“Moses said to himself, ‘Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it.’ When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush…”
Exodus 3:3–4 (NLT)
I still remember the first time I encountered a reverse poem.
If you’ve never heard of one before, it’s a type of poem that carries one meaning when read from top to bottom and a completely different meaning when read from bottom to top. The first time I saw one, my brain practically short-circuited. I was blown away. How did someone come up with this? How do you write something like that? The form fascinated me so much that I started digging deeper and learning everything I could about it.
At the time, I thought I was simply following my curiosity. Looking back, I can see that God was quietly using it to get my attention. What eventually came from that experience was meaningful, (I’ve shared the full story in an earlier devotional) but what strikes me most today is how it all began with paying attention.
That’s what stood out to me when I recently reread the story of Moses and the burning bush.
Moses notices something unusual. A bush that burns without being consumed. And his response was wonder and curiosity. Not fear or skepticism or apathy. “I must go see it,” he said.
The burning bush awakened his curiosity, and his curiosity drew him closer. It was there, as Moses leaned in, that God spoke.
I think back to my own life and how often God has worked this way.
When I was a college student and new to church, one of the things that first captured my attention was the creativity. The visuals, the videos, the design, the way the message was communicated. I was amazed by it. That sense of wonder pulled me in, and over time, it led me into a deeper relationship with God.
I also remember reading comics as a kid and being fascinated by the illustrations and the storytelling. That curiosity eventually grew into a love for drawing and design, which years later became one of the primary ways I worship and serve God today.
When I was younger I remember being mesmerized by Michael Jackson’s dance moves on my dad’s VCD’s. The precision, the creativity, the movement. That curiosity led me to explore dance for myself, which eventually became another expression of worship during my college years.
Looking back, I can see a pattern. God often met me in the things that sparked my wonder.
The comics, the church visuals, and even those mesmerizing moonwalks were never the destination. They were invitations. Doorways. Burning bushes that caused me to stop, pay attention, and move a little closer.
And that’s what I find so beautiful about this passage.
Moses didn’t know that a calling was waiting for him on the other side of his curiosity. He simply saw something that filled him with wonder and decided to take a closer look.
What if curiosity is sometimes God’s way of getting our attention so He can have a conversation with us? What if some of the things that stir your wonder are invitations to come a little closer?
Not every curiosity leads to a calling, and not every fascination becomes a life assignment.But I do think we can become so distracted, hurried, and practical that we stop noticing the burning bushes around us.
And when we stop noticing, we may miss the conversations God wants to have with us.
🙏 PRAYER:
Father, thank You for being a God who still speaks. Help me slow down enough to notice the things You are drawing my attention toward. Restore my sense of wonder. Give me the courage to investigate, explore, and pay attention when You stir curiosity in my heart. Teach me to recognize Your invitations and respond with faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What was the last thing that made you stop and say, “Wow”? Maybe it was a piece of art that you saw on Instagram. A new song that a friend introduced to you. A passage of Scripture. A pair of beautiful eyes. A creative idea you couldn’t stop thinking about. Spend a few minutes reflecting on it today. Why did it capture your attention? What stirred in your heart when you encountered it? Perhaps there is more to that moment than you first realized.
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