Summary
We have all seen burning bushes, in person or on a screen. But never a burning bush which is not consumed. This unnatural wonder is a wonderful and fearful sign of God’s power. But its intent was to bring Moses into God’s presence, because Moses would play a key part in God’s fulfilment of his covenant promises.
Exodus 3 records the Call of Moses by God, as God appears to Moses at Mount Sinai at the Burning Bush. There Moses encounters God’s presence, receives God’s commissioning, and hears God’s challenge to Israel and Egypt.
Our passage explained
v1-5
Many years after Moses’ flight from Egypt, he is shepherding the (valuable) flock of his Father-in-law when he brings them to Horeb (v.1). There, the “angel of the LORD” (which refers to God himself) appears to Moses “in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (v.2) This would grab his attention as fire is a threat to his flock, but while it was burning “it was not consumed” (vv.2-3).
As Moses comes close to look at the unusual sight, he receives a personal summons from God, to which he responds positively (v.4). God instructs Moses to take off his sandals (a sign of respect) because he is standing on ground made holy by God’s presence (v.5). God identifies himself covenantally as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”, causing Moses to cover himself at coming into God’s special physical presence.
v6-15
Now that Moses is in God’s presence, he receives God’s commissioning. God reveals that his presence with Moses is because he has seen his covenant people’s pain (v.7, cf. 2:23-5), and has come to rescue them and bring them to Canaan, a land where he will provide for their needs (v.8). God has come to act as judge and to correct an injustice (Israel’s slavery), and commissions Moses to “bring my people … out of Egypt” (v.10).
Moses responds to God’s commissioning with two objections. Firstly, lacking self-confidence, Moses questions his worthiness to act as God’s agent (v.11). God responds by telling Moses who he is less important than that God himself “will be with you”, and that he will recognise this when he leads the Israelites out of Egypt (v.12). In the meantime, he must trust in God.
Moses’ second objection is that the Israelites may not believe God sent him, or God has power to deliver (v.13). To this, God tells Moses “I AM WHO I AM”, the only unchanging, self-existent God (v.14). Further, Moses is to tell the Israelites that their covenant God, revealing himself as “I AM” and “Yahweh” has sent Moses to them to fulfil His covenant promises to them (v.15).
v16-22
In the remainder of the chapter, we see God’s challenge to both Israel and Egypt. Israel’s challenge is to accept Moses is God’s messenger, sent as part of God’s rescue plan. Moses was to tell the Elders of Israel that the God of their Patriarchs had heard their cries and was acting, to deliver them from slavery to the Promised Land (vv.16-17). God promises that “they will listen to your voice” (v.18), answering his earlier second objection.
The challenge to Egypt is to release God’s people from their bondage. Moses and the Elders were to go to Pharaoh and ask him to “let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God” (v.18). Since Pharaoh was viewed as a god in Egypt, leaving to worship God elsewhere was a challenge to Pharaoh’s divine authority and Egypt’s political-religion.
God is clear that the Egyptians will not meet this challenge, so God will strike them powerfully to force them to release the Israelites (vv.19-20). The trouble that will come to Egypt will be so great the Egyptians will gladly see them leave with their prized possessions, so those who plundered the strength of the Israelites will have their wealth plundered by their victorious, freed slaves (vv.21-2).
Our passage applied
The call of Moses reminds us that God is present with his people. He knows and hears all things, including when they suffer. So he knows our needs, and comes to help. God comes to Moses to commission him for ministry, the instrument through which God fulfils his covenant promises and His will.
In the same way, Christ’s coming to deliver us from the slavery of sin demonstrates God’s presence with us. God knows our need for salvation, and sent Jesus to not only live a perfect life but offer up a perfect sacrifice for our sins, so we can enjoy the blessings of God’s presence, as the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
Like Moses, we are inadequate to receive this on our own, or to share the news of this blessing to others. But like Moses, the important thing is not our character but that God is with us. We receive God’s promises by faith, until one day we see them fulfilled.
Resources
Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.
