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Day Six: Burning Bush

We see the Lord in the fire of the burning bush, and the Lord stirs our hearts by the fire of His love. On that mountaintop He shows us a cause to which we can commit our lives. He tells us, as He told Moses, "I will be with you." Renewed by this time of inner nurturing, we return to Egypt to confront Pharaoh openly, and we see Egypt for what it really is–a land of captivity, filled with terrible plagues. We come to a point where we see Egypt has become a land of death. It is from this realization that we find the strength to leave it and begin a journey to Canaan.

Nurtured by heavenly loves, by a renewal of the promised vision we want to leave Egypt, but Pharaoh does not let us go easily. Pharaoh, the lower levels of our mind, resists our new goals. He convinces us that we should not make drastic changes, that we had better wait for another day. A bargaining takes place between the higher and lower parts of our minds. This can be seen in the story of the plagues. When Moses first confronted Pharaoh, he asked simply that the people be allowed to go on a three day journey into the wilderness to hold a feast to God. Pharaoh refused, and the rivers of Egypt turned into blood. Next Moses asked that Pharaoh let the people go so that they might serve their God. Pharaoh refused, and the land was smitten with frogs. After the plague of locusts, Pharaoh finally agreed to let the adults go but not the children. After the plague of darkness, Pharaoh agreed to let even the children go, but said that the livestock must stay behind. It was only after the final plague–the death of the firstborn son–that Pharaoh finally agreed to let the people, their children, and the livestock go.

Reflections
When you try to make positive changes in your life, what barriers come up? What bargaining process takes place?

Listed below are some ways people connect with God. Circle those that resonate with you. What are other tools that help you to connect with God?

Download this Reflection and Chart in printable form, to fill in your additional thoughts. (PDF)

Discussion Board
Share your thoughts on today's Journey in the discussion board.

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