ICF - Professions of Faith

Sunday 23rd March 2025 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

The story of Moses at the burning bush is foundational in the faith journey of God's people; God the nation builder reveals Himself as God the Redeemer, commissioning Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery to a land of promise. What might not be immediately noticed is that this encounter takes place while Moses is at work, tending the flocks of his father in law as part of a community of nomadic shepherds. Some might argue that this story diminishes the place of daily work - Moses is called from this task to a more "spiritual" vocation; but this misses some important realities. It is through working as a shepherd that Moses has matured as an individual, and perhaps it is no coincidence that David and other later leaders, reflect on the lessons learned as a shepherd in their leadership of the people of God and nurturing their own relationship with Him. For a community of people to travel through the harsh desert landscape would require a leader who was familiar with it and used to surviving there; Moses' work was important in God's purposes. The Gospel reading is also rooted in a workplace situation as two growers discuss how they might respond to a tree that has not yielded - there are obvious deeper meanings to this, but it is the world of work that provides the backdrop to understanding God's purposes. Reflecting on these realities a congregation might be asked to consider:

Where might you encounter God within your workplace?

Whatever we make of the burning bush - what might God need to do to catch our attention while we are at work?

What lessons and images might we encounter at work that help us better understand the nature and purposes of God?