It is springtime, which means it is time for the annual broadcast of The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston.
As I was thinking about what to write for this week’s article, I found myself watching the scene of Moses at the burning bush. In the movie, as in the Bible, Moses, while tending his sheep, comes upon a bush engulfed in flames yet not consumed. From it, he hears a voice calling his name and is given a daunting task: to return to Egypt and lead his people out of slavery.
In the movie, he returns home where his friend Joshua and his wife are waiting. Joshua says, “Look at his face.” Moses’ wife replies, “He has seen the Lord.” Then she continues, “Moses, your hair.” He had gone up the mountain with dark hair and returned with gray.
As parents, maybe a few conversations with teenagers have added gray hair of your own. But this was different. Moses hadn’t just had a difficult conversation. He had encountered God, and it showed. He was no longer a simple shepherd; his robes were long, his hair distinguished, and he moved with quiet confidence.
This scene isn’t in Scripture, but director DeMille’s symbolic vision shows how God’s encounter might have changed Moses—and I can’t help but wonder: what would be different about a person who has truly “seen the Lord”?
For Christians, we see the answer begin to unfold in the Easter story. On Easter morning, Mary met Jesus in the garden, and when he called her name, she recognized him. That evening, Jesus appeared to his disciples as they hid in fear behind locked doors, and they were overjoyed. And for each of these, seeing the risen Christ changed them.
Whether in a single moment or gradually over time, encountering the Lord leaves a mark. Moses returned with confidence and faith and went on to do God’s bidding. Mary’s grief turned to joy and she ran to share the news. The disciples left fear behind and began preaching and healing in God’s name. In every case, the encounter with God shaped them, and the change was visible to others.
We too are invited to live in ways that reflect what we have encountered. Small, ordinary acts — like forgiveness, kindness, calmness under stress, encouragement, listening instead of arguing, or standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves — reveal that something profound has touched our lives. These are the marks of hope, courage, and patience.
Others may notice something in us — not always a dramatic change, and not in outward signs like gray hair or robes, but in a steadiness, a care, a quiet strength. Whether newly formed or long present, these qualities can reflect a life shaped by an encounter with God. And what others see in us may inspire them to live with greater care and compassion—building a stronger, more compassionate world, one life at a time.
— This week’s Reflections column was submitted by Rob and Donna Flint of First Presbyterian Church in Brookings.
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