Moses at the Burning Bush
Sunday School Lesson, September 22, 2019 - Exodus 3:1-10
Interestingly Moses’ communication from God here (3:1–3) is at the same mountain where God later gave him the Law (19:20; 24:13–18; cf. 3:12). There Moses’ curiosity was engaged by a bush that was aflame but was not burned up. The Angel of the Lord (v. 4) is the Lord (cf. comments on Gen. 16:9). Fire was a symbol of God’s presence, seen later when He descended upon Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:18).
3:4–10. In this confrontation with Moses, God commissioned him to deliver His people from Egypt (v. 10). Aware that it was God who was calling him, Moses responded, Here I am. The same response was given God by Abraham (Gen. 22:11), Jacob (Gen. 46:2), and Samuel (1 Sam. 3:4). God told Moses to remove his sandals (cf. Josh. 5:15) in a gesture of worship. The ground was holy not by its nature but because of God’s presence. When the Lord identified Himself to Moses as the God of his ancestors (Abraham … Isaac … and … Jacob; cf. Ex. 3:15–16; 4:5) Moses covered his face, fearful of looking at God (cf. comments on 33:11, 20; John 1:18).
God then told Moses He was aware of the plight of His people (Ex. 3:7, 9; cf. 2:24) and that He planned to rescue them from Egypt. The result of His concern is captured in the words I have come down (3:8), an idiom describing divine intervention. God would (a) deliver them from Egypt and (b) take them to a good and spacious land, unlike the Midianite desert.
The phrase a land flowing with milk means that Canaan was ideal for raising goats and cows. Feeding on good pastureland the goats, sheep, and cows were full of milk. Flowing with honey means that the bees were busy making honey. Milk and honey suggested agricultural prosperity. This is the first of numerous references in the Old Testament to the “land flowing with milk and honey” (cf. v. 17; 33:3; Lev. 20:24; Num. 13:27; 14:8; 16:13–14; Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 31:20; Josh. 5:6; Jer. 11:5; 32:22; Ezek. 20:6, 15).
This land then was occupied by Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (cf. Ex. 3:17; 13:5; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11).
In Genesis 10:15–18 all of these are listed except Perizzites, along with several other peoples who descended from Canaan, son of Ham and grandson of Noah. In the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 15:18–21) God mentioned five of the six groups of Exodus 3:8, along with five others (cf. seven in Deut. 7:1).
Canaanites is the more general term. Hittites were probably pockets of people who immigrated from the north. Amorites were the same as the Amurru of northern Mesopotamia (cf. comments on Gen. 14:13–16). Perizzites were perhaps village-dwellers or nomads. Hivites were possibly in northern Palestine and beyond (Josh. 11:3; Jud. 3:3). Jebusites lived in the hill country (Num. 13:29) of and around Jebus, later known as Jerusalem (Josh. 15:8).
God then told Moses how He would bring about the deliverance of His people. He would use Moses, not in his own strength (Acts 7:25) but by divine enablement. God said, So now, go. I am sending you. Interestingly while God promised the people two things (deliverance from Egypt and entrance into a new land), He commissioned Moses to accomplish only the first. God knew Moses would not enter the Promised Land (Deut. 32:48–52).
Hannah, J. D. (1985). Exodus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 111–112). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
A new day dawned and everything had to change for Moses. When he went out with his sheep that morning, he had no idea that he would meet God. It pays to be ready, for we never know what God has planned for us.
I. God Appears to Moses (3:1–6)
The burning bush had a threefold significance. It was a picture of God (Deut. 33:16), for it revealed His glory and power, yet it was not consumed. Moses needed to be reminded of the glory and power of God, for he was about to undertake an impossible task. Second, the bush symbolized Israel going through the fire of affliction, but not consumed. How often nations have tried to exterminate the Jews, yet have failed! Finally, the bush illustrated Moses—a humble shepherd, who with God’s help would become a fire that could not be put out! Note that Moses was brought to the place where he bowed before God and adored Him in wonder, for this is the true beginning of Christian service. Servants who know how to take off their shoes in humility can be used of God to walk in power. Later we see that before God called Isaiah, He revealed His glory (Isa. 6). The memory of the burning bush must have encouraged Moses during many a trying mile in the wilderness.
II. God Appoints Moses (3:7–10)
“I have seen … I have heard their cry … I know … I have come down!” What a message of grace! Moses often had wondered about the condition of his beloved people, and now he was shown that God had been watching over them all the time. We might easily apply these verses to the situation when Christ was born: it was a time of bondage, trial, and sorrow, yet God came down in the Person of His Son, to deliver men from sin. God had a definite plan, to bring them out and then to bring them into the Promised Land. What He starts, He finishes.
Moses rejoiced to hear that God was about to deliver Israel, but then he heard the news that he was the deliverer! “I will send you!” God uses human instruments to accomplish His work on earth. There had been eighty years of preparation for Moses; now it was time to act. Unfortunately, Moses did not reply, “Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8).
God Appeared to Moses at the Bush (Ex 3:1–10)
In the course of his duties of tending Jethro’s flock, Moses came into the region of Horeb, the mountain of God. This mount may have been sacred already to the worshipers of the Lord. On the other hand, the text may call the place the “mountain of God” proleptically, i.e., in anticipation of what would shortly transpire there. Horeb actually refers to a range of mountains. The particular peak where God appeared was known as Sinai. At that mount the heavenly silence of four centuries was broken (cf. Gn 46:2–4).
The angel of Yahweh appeared to Moses in flames of fire from within a bush. This is not a visionary or inner experience. What happened there cannot be explained on any naturalistic basis.4 This was a genuine theophany, a manifestation of God. Moses observed that while the bush was on fire it was not consumed. He moved closer to investigate and when he did he heard the voice of God speak six words:
1. A word of address. God called Moses’ name two times. Thus did God arrest the attention of the shepherd and at the same time indicate a personal acquaintance with him.
2. A word of warning. Moses must come no closer. He was standing on holy ground in the presence of God. He must show respect for the spot by removing his sandals. Sandals pick up dirt during a journey, and man must be clean when he approaches God!
3. A word of identity. The deity identified himself as the God of your father (singular), and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Hearing this, Moses quickly covered his face, for he knew that it meant death to look upon God.
4. A word of compassion. Four precious indications of divine grace were given: “I have seen … I have heard their cry … I know … I am come down.” God always is concerned about the welfare of his people.
5. A word of promise. God promised to bring his people out of Egypt and bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey.
6. A word of challenge. Moses was informed that he was being sent to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
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