Pastor's Pen: Wonder and Awe

Moses and the Burning Bush by Chagall (1966)

One day as Moses tended the flocks of his father-in-law, he noticed something (Exodus 3). It was a bush on fire, yet the fire did not consume the bush. This was something that Moses had never experienced before in his role as a shepherd. Moses marvels at the burning bush. He declares, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up” (Exodus 3:3).

This event, we learn, is a divine encounter. God counsels a reverential response from Moses, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). In the presence of God, Moses experiences wonder and awe. Those emotions inspire in Moses an awareness of a world much larger, and he realizes his connection to the story of God and God’s people.

In recent years, scientists have become fascinated with the role that the emotions of wonder and awe play in our lives. As with Moses, those emotions can inspire deeper connections, but we now know that wonder and awe can also boost our immune system and make us healthier and happier. Watching a sunset, experiencing a great work of art, studying Scripture, or spending time praying may be just what the doctor ordered.

Moreover, those emotions are also reinforcing. The more we practice wonder and awe, the more likely we will notice those burning bushes in our lives. As a preacher and teacher, this leads me to some interesting thoughts. Our study of Scripture certainly impacts our view of the world, but an attitude of wonder can help us be better students of God’s Word as well. We pray at the beginning of every Bible study and Sunday School class. Should we also require “wonder walks” reflecting on the awe-inspiring beauty of God’s creation? On mission trips I have led, I have often asked participants to reflect on where they saw God at work each day. By cultivating a posture of wonder and awe, we increase our chances that we might “turn aside” to encounter God for ourselves.