Girls Gone Bible – "The God Who Rescues"

Hosts: Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma
Episode Release: November 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, Angela and Arielle dive into the story of Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-10), exploring themes of God’s rescue, calling, and presence in the midst of suffering and ordinary life. The hosts reflect on how God often calls and meets people in unexpected, inconvenient, or even painful circumstances—emphasizing the personal and compassionate character of God. They share their own "burning bush" moments, stories marked by profound encounters that redirected the course of their lives, and encourage listeners to recognize and respond to such moments in their own walks of faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Updates, Humor, and Friendship

• The episode opens with the friends' signature, lighthearted banter—discussing Bible translations, funny stories about misremembering names, and adventures (and mishaps) while traveling for their Girls Gone Bible Live tour.
• Memorable moment: Their Atlanta trip and the search for a healthy smoothie at "Get Fruity," which instead offered a "fried fish sandwich and a Snapple" ([09:05]).

  “We went to get fruity to get smoothies, and there's a fish sandwich, fish stick and a Snapple.”—Angie ([09:53])

2. Setting the Stage for Exodus 3: Moses and the Israelites

• Angie introduces the story of Moses: not a hero, but a man hiding out after a difficult past, chosen by God to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery ([15:47]).
• Emphasis on how God works through ordinary, flawed, or "disqualified" people.

  "Moses wasn’t a hero. He was a man that was hiding...again who's not a hero, he's nobody special. Just a shepherd..."—Angie ([15:47])

3. The Significance of the Burning Bush

• God meets Moses during an ordinary moment of life, revealing that all ground can be holy ground when God enters it.

  “Spiritual life is all the time, everywhere. God is everywhere. He’s involved in everything.”—Angie ([22:18])

• Discussion of how spirituality isn’t just confined to certain “spiritual” activities—God can speak in all moments, from doing the dishes to driving to work.

4. Curiosity and Attention Precede Revelation

• Analysis of Moses' response: he notices the bush, is curious, and steps closer. Only when Moses turns aside does God speak.

  “God did not speak until Moses stopped and was aware and curious...revelation meets attention. True spirituality begins with noticing.”—Angie ([24:10])

• The hosts emphasize the importance of slowing down and being attentive, rather than numbing out on social media or distractions.

5. God’s Character: The God Who Sees, Hears, and Delivers

• Delving into Exodus 3:7-10, the hosts share how comforting it is that God not only sees suffering but is "concerned" about it and actively works for deliverance.

  “The God who delivers...but it could also be the God who sees, the God who is near, the God who cares..."—Angie ([24:10])

6. Every Encounter with God Carries a Commission

• God’s call is not just to comfort but to send: Moses receives a commission to confront Pharaoh and free Israel.
• Application: we are not called to faith just for our own comfort, but to be "on mission" ([28:10]):

  "You don’t just become a Christian so that you can have cool times with Jesus. You become a Christian to be on mission..."—Angie ([28:10])

7. Personal "Burning Bush" Moments

• Both Angie and Ari gift vulnerable stories:
  • Angie shares how she sensed God calling her out of acting—a passion since childhood—to pursue full-time ministry, describing the restless, persistent feeling as her own burning bush ([29:16]-[33:32]).

    "God grabbed my attention so strongly. It was persistent...and it interrupted my whole life."—Angie ([33:32])

  • Ari recounts God meeting her during "the most broken time," after heartbreak and job loss, calling her despite feeling unworthy—a theme that closely mirrors Moses' journey ([40:30]-[43:34]).

    "He does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called."—Ari ([43:23])

  • Ari also reads from her 2022 journal, revealing heartfelt prayers for purpose and her journey in obedience ([44:08]).

8. God’s Rescue is Ongoing and Relentless

• Encouragement that God is always making a way—even when He feels silent or absent (cf. the "Waymaker" song, [46:49]).

  "He’s always making a way. He’s always doing something, even when you can’t see it..."—Ari ([45:15])

  • The hosts challenge listeners to reflect on how God’s character remains steady—merciful, patient, and compassionate—even when we falter ([47:18]).

9. How to Recognize a Burning Bush Moment

• Practical guide for listeners:
  • Interrupts your comfort
  • Won’t go away/presses on your heart
  • Feels bigger than your own ability
  • Pushes you toward obedience, not ego
  • Aligns with God’s character and scripture ([50:56])

  “I know it’s Jesus when he wants to interrupt my comfort...God...doesn’t care about our comfort. He cares about our character.”—Angie ([51:30])

• Discomfort, suffering, and even obstacles are often places of great growth and encounter with God.

10. Connection with Jesus in the Old Testament

• Reference to a theological insight: the burning bush may have been a thorn bush, connecting it to Jesus's crown of thorns at the cross.

  "...Jesus putting the crown of thorns on his head was a declaration...‘I am the fire in the burning bush’..."—Angie, citing Michael Kanos ([53:25])

11. God’s Presence in Suffering

• The hosts emphasize God's nearness in pain, and the invitation to simple, heartfelt prayer and comfort in intimacy with Him ([56:10]).

  "He’s so in it with you. And every moment, He does not enjoy your suffering, He cries with you, He hurts with you..."—Angie ([55:36])

  • Ari shares her practice of asking God: “Will you just put your head on my shoulder?”—a symbol of personal connection in times of pain ([56:12]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s choice of Moses:

  "God chose this man who is so disqualified, who’s so unqualified, who’s so full of shame and lacking identity, and goes, 'you’re perfect because My power is made perfect in your weakness.'" —Angie ([28:54])

• On revelation requiring attention:

  "God did not speak until Moses stopped and was aware and curious...true spirituality begins with being aware of God, what he’s doing, when he’s speaking." —Angie ([24:10])

• On God’s relentless rescue:

  "Jesus, literally, we make messes and God cleans them up. That's crazy." —Angie ([48:03])

• On obedience in hard moments:

  "I could have, you know, went the whole other way. But just blindly being obedient and letting God lead me in my life to the call that he had for me through the most just broken, inconvenient season of my life." —Ari ([43:23])

• On discomfort and growth:

  "Discomfort is where we grow. Suffering is where we grow." —Angie ([52:53])

• On God’s presence in pain:

  "When you commune with Him like that, like a Father...you can breathe easier and I promise that you always—the thing about Jesus is He’s the one person that you can call out to. Who else can you call out to? And He will always respond." —Ari ([57:46])

Important Timestamps

• 03:30 — Podcast banter, funny stories about mispronouncing names
• 06:19 — Atlanta tour and the search for healthy food—“Get Fruity”
• 15:47 — Introduction to Moses and Israelites’ suffering
• 19:57 — Prayer for interpretation and openness to the Word
• 22:18 — Distinction (or lack thereof) between spiritual and regular life
• 24:10 — How attention/curiosity precede divine revelation
• 28:10 — On spiritual calling and being commissioned by God
• 29:16–33:32 — Angie’s testimony: leaving acting for ministry
• 40:30–43:34 — Ari’s testimony: God’s call amid brokenness
• 45:15 — “God is always making a way;” reflecting on God’s work behind the scenes
• 46:49 — “Waymaker” song reference and God working even when unseen
• 50:56 — Practical signs of a “burning bush” moment
• 53:25 — Jesus as the fire in the burning (thorn) bush
• 55:36 — God’s presence, nearness, and compassion in suffering
• 56:12 — Ari’s practical comfort prayer practice

How to Recognize a “Burning Bush” Moment (Practical List)

• Interrupts your comfort zone
• Receives persistent prompting
• Demands more than your human ability
• Calls for humility and obedience
• Conforms to God’s character and scripture

Closing Thoughts

Angela and Ari wrap up with a blessing for the audience and a reminder that God is a rescuer, ever-present in suffering, and relentless in his love and deliverance. The episode leaves listeners both encouraged and challenged to look for God in ordinary life, to be open to His interruptions, and to respond in faith—even, and especially, when it leads out of their comfort zone.

Tone: Candid, warm, uplifting, faith-filled—consistent with the hosts’ everyday, honest, and encouraging style.

For New Listeners

If you are new to Girls Gone Bible, this episode is an excellent entry point for understanding how Angela and Ari weave biblical teaching with authentic personal stories—always returning to the deep, practical goodness of God for every listener.