The Burning Bush Fallacy

"When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.'” - Exodus 3:4

Imagine it: You’re minding your own business, doing your mundane job, and suddenly God shouts from a shrubbery that’s on fire but won't turn to ash. It’s shocking, cinematic, and—most importantly—unmistakable.

We often forget that at the moment God called Moses, it had been 400 years since a recorded “appearance” of God. The burning bush didn't just end a long workday; it ended a centuries-long silence. Throughout the thousands of years chronicled in the Bible, God physically presented Himself to man only about 50 to 70 times. For the average person, God’s presence was a story you heard, not a sight you saw. Even when God was “present” in the Tabernacle or the Temple, only one person (the High Priest) could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year.

The fallacy we fall into is believing that the “Burning Bush” is the standard for communication. We want the clear, audible answer. I want Him to say, “Michele. Michele.” But when we don't get the fire, we assume we've been met with the same spiritual silence the Israelites endured as slaves. We think if it isn't loud, it isn't happening.

Moses wasn’t looking for God to present himself in a burning bush. He was just herding sheep. But that burning bush not only changed his life but the lives of all the Israelites.

Spiritual Silence

When my world crashed down in divorce after more than a decade as a devoted wife, mother, and worship leader, I didn’t just feel silent—I felt abandoned. I cried out, “God, why have you forsaken me? I’ve been so faithful!” I was waiting for my bush to catch fire so I could know which way to go. Instead, there was only a void.

However, looking back through the “mental fog” of that exhaustion, I realized God hadn't left the room; I was just too spiritually spent to notice He was sitting right next to me. My “silence” wasn't a lack of God's presence; it was a byproduct of my own burnout.

Talking At vs. Talking With

It has taken me nearly another decade to realize it was not fair of me to think that just because I “did all the right things” God would keep me from the storm. I was good at worshipping God. I wasn't even doing worship "wrong"—God adores our praise—but I was doing the relationship wrong.

I had been treating God like a sounding board rather than a partner. I spoke AT Him. I gave Him my lists, my hurts, and my "faithfulness" tallies, but I never stopped to discern His will.

Imagine only talking AT your spouse—listing your needs and your day’s grievances—and then walking away before they can speak. What would that marriage look like?

That was the state of my soul. I mistook my own failure to listen for God’s refusal to speak. The “Burning Bush” is rare because God usually prefers the whisper—but you have to be quiet enough, and close enough, to hear it.

The Allium: A Focused Pursuit of Growth

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. — James 1:5 (NIV)

Think of ornamental alliums as the overachievers of the family. While the onions and garlic are busy staying grounded and doing the dirty work in the soil, these guys are purely “eyes on the prize.” They shoot up these tall, sturdy scapes like they’re trying to touch the clouds, acting as botanical lightning rods that soak up every single ray of sunshine. It’s like they’re on a mission to get as close to the sun as possible, standing head and shoulders above the rest of the garden in a focused pursuit of growth.

The way they’re built is actually pretty genius. Those giant purple pom-poms—the umbels—are basically high-tech solar panels made of hundreds of tiny stars. Because they’re shaped like globes and perched way up high, they can grab the sun from every angle as it moves through the sky. They’ve got this incredible, sculptural energy that makes them look more like celestial art than garden plants. Honestly, they’re just proof that even a family known for being savory and humble can have a side that’s totally obsessed with reaching for the sky.

Just as the Allium rises above the garden bed to see clearly, God invites us to lift our eyes above the “mental fog” of daily chores, work, and stress. Wisdom isn’t something we must manufacture; it is a gift waiting to be requested.

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Knowledge VS Wisdom

Knowledge is generally an awareness, understanding, or specific information that you gain through experience, study, or observation. It is something that is learned. It requires you to make the effort to gain the awareness, understanding, or information.

From a Biblical perspective, wisdom is much more than knowledge. Wisdom is divine insight that guides you in your life. Wisdom is a treasure given to you, and we should seek it out through our relationship with God.

The Biblical Anchor

Let’s go back to James 1:5. This promise is the antidote to the "Burning Bush" Fallacy. James doesn't say we should wait for a miraculous sign or a centuries-long silence to break; he says we should ask.

Wisdom isn’t a mysterious prize reserved for theologians or ancient prophets. It is a practical tool forged in the relationship we build with God. It is for the artist at her canvas, the mother in the chaos of the kitchen, and the business owner facing a hard strategy call. It’s for you too!

When you stop talking at God and start walking with Him, you realize that wisdom isn't usually a lightning bolt. It's the quiet, generous gift that fills the spaces where you once felt only silence. You just have to be willing to turn aside, as Moses did, and listen.

14-Day Wisdom Challenge

This week, focus on the Words in James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

If you struggle to silence your mind to focus on building your relationship with God, do something creative, like doodling or coloring, while you meditate on the following questions.

Answer 1 question a day for the following 7 days:

How does this scripture change the way you view asking for help?
In what area of your life do you feel you are currently lacking wisdom?
Look around you. What in nature, relationships, or daily life reflects God’s generosity?
What thoughts or worries are you handing over to God?
Where this week have you paused to think before reacting?
What noise in your life makes it difficult to hear God’s wise counsel?
If you could ask God for one specific piece of guidance for your future right now, what would it be?

For the final 7 days, we will reflect on how our perspective and relationship with God have shifted since you began focusing on James 1:5.

How have you felt God’s guidance since last week? Did it come through a person, a verse, or a feeling of peace?
God’s direction often illuminates the next few steps you should take. Belief in his faithfulness is required to set out in confidence. How would it feel to move forward in your current season with total confidence in God’s direction?
What small decisions have you overlooked lately that could benefit from God’s wisdom?
How can you share a wise word or a listening ear with someone else this week
How has your perspective on your problems changed now that you’ve been seeking wisdom?
How can you make “seeking first” a habit in your daily routine?
Write a prayer asking for the courage to follow the wisdom God has given you, even if it feels difficult.

Call to Action

Pray: My Lord. What do you have in store for my life? I am not asking for a burning bush. I know that you speak to me even in the chaos. You stand next to me when my mind won’t stop humming through all my worries. Give my soul a quiet peace, so I can hear you. I will listen. I will observe. I will obey. Please God, open the doors that I should walk through and close the doors that no longer fit in my life. Please make it clear to me how I can edify you and live a life that is delightful in your eyes. I ask for Wisdom. Wisdom that only you can grant. I pray that I use the wisdom you have given me to show Jesus to others. In your son's precious name, Amen.
Journal: If you found the above exercise helpful, I invite you to purchase my 52-week Coloring Meditation Journal, Rooted and Blooming. Every two weeks, I will introduce a new flower that represents a connection to a theme and a corresponding scripture.

52-Week Coloring Meditation Journal

Rooted and Blooming

Invite peace and curiosity into your spiritual life with Rooted and Blooming, an art-driven 52-week journal designed to help you slow down and reconnect with faith. Created by artist Michele Delcoure, this journal uses the intricate beauty of the natural world to make meditation on Scripture accessible and deeply personal.

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