The Call in the Midst of the Noise

By Dean Collins

Have you noticed that cell phones tend to ring almost everywhere you go? How many times have you been in a meeting, a wedding, a funeral, a church service, the middle of dinner, or in the middle of some leisure moment when you hear the phone ring? You might have silenced your phone, but it seems that many friends do not know how to silence their phones!

I suppose our phones ring because at every moment of every day someone has a need. It might be a crisis, or it might be simply because someone wants to share a funny story or a bit of gossip. If we could see the grand matrix of communication that goes on in every moment across the globe, it would be impossible to comprehend. While technology continues to invade our lives and our privacy in increasing measures, it is only our Heavenly Father who sees all things, knows all things, and is working to renew and restore all things. He knows the big picture, and centuries ago he launched his grand plan to fix what mankind broke in the garden of Eden.

Just as we cannot comprehend the massive amount of communication that goes on in the world in a given moment in time, we fail to see all that God is doing in, through, and beyond our constant communication with each other. It is often that God nudges, calls, and directs us towards opportunities to serve when we least expect it. And in order to get our attention, God often uses situations, people, dreams, and even the unexplainable so that he can guide us toward acts of service that can change us and bring transformation and blessing to others. 

Moses had moved on from his royal life in Egypt and had taken a job in the family business of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. Being the younger man in the family business, Jethro had sent Moses to the west side of the wilderness at Horeb, the mountain of God. It was there that God caught the curiosity of Moses at a bush that was burning brightly but never turned to ashes. There was no sign of this fire spreading the way the horrible fires of Los Angeles recently did. Filled with amazement, Moses turned away from the sheep to investigate this mysterious burning bush.

Isolated in the wilderness, with the full attention of Moses on the flaming bush, God spoke to Moses. Mesmerized by the fire and by the voice of God, Moses responded with three simple words, words worth memorizing: “Here I am.”

Just as we don’t understand all the human communication that happens in any moment, nor the millions of ways that God is moving in any given moment, we also do not see or understand the timeless nature of God. We are bound by our watches, calendars, and phones, but God works above, through, and beyond our concept of time.

In the timeless moment of a burning bush, God chose to call Moses to a deeper understanding of his presence, his holiness, and there for Moses to begin a new journey. It was a journey where God would reveal to Moses that he had not forgotten the Hebrew people. God called Moses to a partnership that would result in freedom for those Moses had left behind years earlier. We cannot run from our past. God often will use our past to teach us more about himself and more about ourselves in the process.

Moses had many questions. When God redirects our steps, we may have questions as well. But in the end, when we surrender to God’s call we discover his presence, his grace, and his blessings in ways far beyond what we could have ever imagined.

Father, we confess that we don’t often notice that you are at work around us. In our stubbornness we sometimes choose to ignore your call. Forgive us. Today we listen for your voice as we pray and read your word. Today we want to be led by you. Today we say, “Here I am.” Direct our paths. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Exodus 3:1-22 ESV

Photo by Adonyi Gábor
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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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