The Bush that Wouldn’t Burn | A Bible Class on Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-15)
Every Old Testament character we’ve discussed has, in his/her unique way, contributed to our overall knowledge of God. Eve taught us a lot about sin against God. Abraham taught us about obedience to God. Joseph taught us a great deal about God’s providence. Moses’ experience at the burning bush tells us a great deal about God.
Exodus 3:1-15
Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, v 1. Reuel is identified as Moses’ father-in-law at 2:18. What’s up with that? If you had asked me before doing some research, I would have said that Moses’ father-in-law had more than one name (and that is still possible, but I doubt that’s the answer). Many folks in Scripture did (e.g., Peter, Matthew).
However, the Hebrew only denotes a male relative by marriage. Some believe Reuel is Moses’ grandfather-in-law and that Jethro is his father-in-law. It’s also possible that Reuel is Moses’ father-in-law and that Jethro is his brother-in-law.
Jethro is introduced as the priest of Midian. Since this is the Patriarchal Age, there is absolutely no reason to think that Jethro is a pagan. Melchizedek (Gen 14:17-24). Job (1:4-5, 42:7-9).
I imagine that the fact that a relative by marriage is a priest is part of God’s providence. This might indicate that Zipporah was raised in a godly home and the right type of wife for Moses. Jethro will give sound advice about Moses’ judging the people (Ex 18).
Back to people (and things) having more than one name: The mountain is here called Horeb, the mountain of God. This is the place where Moses will later receive the Law. Therefore, the place God reveals Himself for the first time to His people is the place where He would give the Law. This is the mountain where God first sought to save His people and guide His people.
I don’t want to push symbolism too far; however, Jesus gave His law on a mountain (the Sermon on the Mount). Jesus saved His people on a “mountain” (Golgotha).
We know it better as Sinai. There is an idea that Horeb represents the mountain range. Sinai would then be the name of this particular mountain. Scholars are not quite sure where Sinai is. The traditional spot is in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush that was burning but not consumed. I have read that bushes on the Sinai Peninsula often catch fire spontaneously. That comes from a source I trust. However, I could not verify that from another source. If that is the case, the fact that the bush is not consumed will greatly interest Moses.
The Angel of the Lord is Yahweh Himself. We mentioned that when we thought about Abraham and Isaac. This text demonstrates that very well. The Lord calls to Moses from the bush. However, the ground where Moses stood would not have been “holy ground” unless Yahweh Himself were there. Angels refused worship; e.g., Revelation 22:8-9.
The bush was not consumed. How would it be possible that a bush was on fire, but it was not consumed? “With God nothing will be impossible” (Lk 1:37). “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26). What might we learn from a bush that burned without being burnt?
Moses had his curiosity piqued, and he turned to look at the bush. Obviously, God is using this bush to get Moses’ attention. Do you think that God ever does anything to get our attention? The case of Cornelius seems to indicate that He may. God sent an angel to Cornelius to tell him to fetch for Peter. Peter sees a vision and Cornelius’ household receives Holy Spirit baptism to allow Peter to know that the Kingdom was open to Gentiles. No, God will not use angels and visions and Holy Spirit baptism. Yet, that does not mean that God doesn’t use “attention getting devices.”
I read a fair amount of “symbolism” that might be in the burning bush. Jewish and Christian interpreters have long seen the bush in this incident as a symbol of the nation of Israel ignoble in relation to other nations (cf. Judges 9:15). The fire probably symbolized the affliction of Egyptian bondage (cf. Deuteronomy 4:20). The fire also probably symbolized the presence of God dwelling among His people (cf. Genesis 15:17; Exodus 19:18; Exodus 40:38); God was with His people in their affliction. All those ideas seem a bit of a stretch to me.
The Lord called to Moses and told him not to come near the bush, but to take off his sandals. Moses was standing on “holy ground.” This is the first time (as far as we know) that God has spoken to any human in over 430 years. Of course, there was another 400-year period during which God was “silent.”
I’m extremely reluctant to run too far with symbolism with the 400-year periods of divine silence. However, there do seem to be some parallels between this episode and Jesus. There are a host of similarities between Moses and Jesus.
If God wants people to come to Him, why would He not want Moses to approach the bush? God is separate from man. That seems to be the idea with the glass sea in Revelation (4:6). In one way, that separation was bridged when God became man. However, that gulf shall only be fully bridged once time is no more (Rev 21:1).
What should we learn about a “distant” God? If God is “distant,” how can He be “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27).
Moses was told to remove his sandals. It was common in Moses’ day for pagan priests to enter temples barefoot, lest they bring in dirt or other impurities. I don’t mean to suggest that Yahweh borrowed this idea from paganism. However, this would have been a practice that Moses would understand. You occasionally see God’s using culture to teach a point.
God begins His teaching of Moses by declaring Himself to be holy. What does the holiness of God really mean? God’s holiness is a central theme of Scripture. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Is 6:3). 1 Peter 1:15-16 (quoting from Lev 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7). How must we respond to a holy God?
Yahweh declares, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” What does the Lord mean? He is demonstrating that He is faithful to the covenant He made with the patriarchs (Gen 12:1-3).
He is also demonstrating that we do not cease to exist when we die. “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Mark 12:18-27. Why is it important to know that we do not cease to exist when we die?
Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Why would Moses be afraid to look upon God? Can you think of others who were afraid to look upon God? Isaiah. Peter (Lk 5:8).
Scripture says that no one has ever seen God. John 1:18; 5:37; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16. If no one has ever seen God, how could Moses be afraid to look upon God?
God had seen the oppression of His people. We know that God’s people were severely oppressed in Egypt. Exodus 1:8-22; 2:23-25. How could God see the oppression of His people and not put a stop to it? God permitted oppression from before Moses’ birth until Moses was 80 years old! How many people would have died during that time?
An inscription from a concentration camp read: “If there is a God, then he will have to beg for my forgiveness.” I attempted to verify the truthfulness of that statement, but I could not do so. However, whether or not that is a true statement, it is very powerful, for it pulls at the heartstrings. How would you answer that?
Why does God allow suffering in this world? We don’t know all the reasons (Job 38:1-7). Suffering causes us to depend on God (2 Cor 1:8-11). Paul had more on him than he could bear. Because he had more than he could bear:
- He learned to trust God for current and future deliverance (vv 9-10).
- He could be helped by many through prayer (v 11).
Suffering allows us to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:28-29).
God would deliver His people from Egypt to Canaan, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” The description of “a land flowing with milk and honey” is a common one in Scripture. This common description would show a huge difference in agriculture from Egypt to Canaan. In Egypt, agriculture was dependent upon the Nile River. In Canaan, there was rain; therefore, You could graze cattle and have milk; you could have beehives and, therefore, have honey.
Yahweh tells Moses that the cry of the Israelites had come to Him, and He had also seen the oppression of the Egyptians. God answered the Israelites for two reasons:
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- He had heard their cry. Cry surely refers to prayer. “Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God” (Ex 2:23). A couple other texts: Exodus 14:15; 22:23. Why is it important to know that God answers prayer?
- He had seen the oppression. If God had seen the oppression, why were the prayers of the Israelites important? If God knows what we need before we pray (Matt 6:8), why pray?
Moses: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Who was Moses that he should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? Why do we sometimes doubt that we are the right people to carry out the Lord’s commands?
The Pharaoh was likely Amenhotep II. During his reign, Egypt was at the zenith of her power. Amenhotep II was likely either Moses’ brother or nephew.
God would be with Moses. God has promised to be with us (Matt 28:20; Heb 13:5-6). How is God with us? What strength should we draw from that? How should we, therefore, live?
The sign that God was with Moses was that Moses would serve God on Mt. Sinai. What “signs” are there that God is with us? I think it’s important to notice that God wouldn’t give Moses the sign until well after Moses had led God’s people out of Egypt.
Moses asks, “When they ask me Your name, what shall I say?” “I AM WHO I AM” (v 14). What are the implications of God’s being the “I AM”? What does that say about God? What does that say about us?
The “I AM” is God’s name forever, and “this is My memorial to all generations” (v 15).
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Dale Ridge church of Christ in Roanoke, Virginia.