something that gives a clear direction for future actions
—Seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre was his burning bush. That’s when he decided to quit his job and work on his art full time.
One day, while Moses was taking care of some sheep in the desert, God got his attention by causing a bush to catch on fire. When Moses came close, God spoke to him:
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked—and the bush was ablaze with fire [the bush burned with fire—KJV], but it was not being consumed! So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:2-4)