A few insights

Reading Exodus 3 today, I had a few insights I'd like to share. I'm not going to give the context or story behind it here, for that you'll just have to dig out a Bible and read it for yourself, or you can use the online Bibles available, my favorite being the Bible Study tools at www.crosswalk.com. These are just my rough notes and observations.

vs. 3-4
God didn't talk to Moses until:
a. Moses took the time to notice the supernatural in something as natural as a burning bush, which many others could have easily overlooked. How many times has God been doing something amazing right in front of us and we are so pre-occupied and busy that we don't even notice?
b. Moses took the time to focus on and watch the bush closely enough and for long enough to notice that the bush was not being consumed or burned by the fire
c. Moses continued to focus on it inspite of distractions, there were other people that he had to send away who were trying to get him to leave

vs. 11-12
Moses asked "Who am I?..." (or as we would probably whine, "Why me, God?" and come up with excuse after excuse for why we can't do what God is telling us to do)
God's response was to say "I am with you." Or in other words, "I chose you, get over yourself already and realize that it has nothing to do with you. I'm the one who will supply the strength, wisdom, resources, etc. to do what needs to be done. Stop looking at yourself and your own weaknesses, focus on My strength."

v. 22
God promised to send the Israelites out of Egypt RICH with gold, clothing, etc. BUT!!! (it's a big but) It wasn't going to fall from the sky or just be handed over to them with no effort on their part. They had to have the faith to take the risk to ASK the Egyptians to give it to them. Which says to me that it doesn't matter if God has promised you the moon, unless you ACT on your faith, take a risk, and move in the direction of what God has promised, it ain't gonna happen.

Which also means that for personal prophecy (promises God has and still does make to individuals through His prophets) to come true, there must be faith and action on the part of the individual who received the promise. Just because a word is given does not guarantee that it will come to full fruition.
I believe this applies more on an individual basis than for humanity as a whole. For example, in the book of Esther, God had purposed to save His people, and it was Esther's choice whether or not she would be the instrument He used to save them. If she had refused, He simply would have used some other means. His people still would have been saved, but Esther as an individual, would have missed out on the very purpose and destiny of her life.