The Burning Bush

Story: The Burning Bush

Passage: Exodus 3

Characters:  Moses, God

Summary: Moses was watching his father-in-law’s flocks and he saw a bush burning but not burning up.  He went to investigate and God spoke to him from the bush.  God told him to go to Egypt and God would deliver his people from Egypt through him.  Moses did not think he was adequate but God encouraged Him.  God revealed His name as I Am.  God also predicted that Pharaoh would not let them go until God did wonders in Egypt.

Notes: Apparently a bush on fire was not that unusual to Moses, but a burning bush that was not consumed was!  I find it interesting that God began calling to Moses once He knew Moses had turned to investigate.  If Moses had ignored the bush, who knows what would have happened.  God’s first two commands to Moses here are interesting. First, Moses was to not come near.  God may have called Moses by name and would have a very close intimate relationship with Moses over his life, but Moses was still separate enough from God that God told him to keep his distance.  Even as personal as God is with us, His holiness demands separation between us and Him.  Second, Moses was to remove his shoes.  This was an act of humility and served to emphasize God’s authority.  God then identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This tied God into the covenant He had made with these men.  Moses reacted the way anyone should when we encounter a holy God; he hid his face.  The thought of seeing this God who was speaking to him overwhelmed him.  I notice that God made no effort to reassure Moses here.  He just continues His message.  God begins by stating that He has seen Israel’s afflictions and has come to deliver them to the Promised Land.  I find it interesting that God specifically named the people groups in the Promised Land.   The Israelites should not have been discouraged later that these people were living in the land.  God knew from the beginning that the land was occupied.  After making this statement, God drops the real shocker.  He lets Moses know that He wants him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go.  Moses gave an answer that showed humility, but in reality, I suspect his answer came from fear.  I love how God said “come, I will send you to Pharaoh.”  His wording implied an urgency.  It was as if He said, I want to save Israel.  Are you ready yet?  Moses was not ready.  Moses did not want to go to the country where he was wanted by the oppressors and disrespected by the oppressed.  God promised to be with him and told him he would survive to serve god on the very mountain he was on.  God addressed Moses’ fear for his life.  Moses then came up with a possible scenario where he would get stuck.  What was God’s name?  God revealed that He wanted to be known as I Am.  The passage states that He wants to be known as that for all generations.  That includes us.  Does God exist?  Well His name is I Am so it would appear that His existence is stated in his name.  God then reiterated his plan for deliverance.  This time, God said that the elders of Israel would go with Moses to Pharaoh and that they would listen to him.  God warned that it would take some signs and wonders to convince Pharaoh to let them go, but that in the end, they would leave, and they would plunder the Egyptians on their way out.  This is a pivotal passage in scripture because it is the moment when God reveals Himself to Moses and makes His plan to deliver His people known.  I find it interesting that Moses could be so moved by the holiness of God that he hides his face, but he still couldn’t trust what this God was saying.

Questions:  Why did God choose to speak through a burning bush?  Did Moses have an idea of why God was speaking to him before God revealed his plan for Moses?  Did Moses trust God at all? Why did God choose Moses?  He is a fearful murderer turned shepherd with royal ties to the oppressors he is being sent against.

Lessons:  God’s holiness is powerful.  It got Moses’ attention and he covered his face.  Even though it might have appeared that God had forgotten Israel, He always had a plan and now he is powerfully putting it into place.  When we are faced with times where we don’t see God, we can trust that He has a plan to deliver you and He is still powerful and will show His power in delivering you.