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The Exodus and the wilderness · Exodus 3–4

The Burning Bush

In Midian, Moses is tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro. Near Horeb, the mountain of God, he sees a bush on fire that is not consumed. He turns aside to look, and God calls to him: “Moses, Moses! … put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” The LORD has seen the suffering of his people: he is sending Moses to Pharaoh to bring Israel out of Egypt. “Who am I?” Moses objects. “Certainly I will be with thee,” God answers, and he reveals his name: “I AM THAT I AM.” To convince the people, he gives Moses signs: his rod becomes a serpent, and his hand turns leprous and then is restored. Moses says he is slow of speech and begs God to send someone else. God gives him his brother Aaron as a spokesman. In Egypt, they perform the signs before the elders, and the people believe.

What happens

  1. The bush on fire that is not consumed Exodus 3:2–3
  2. “Put off thy shoes … holy ground” Exodus 3:4–5
  3. “Who am I?”—“Certainly I will be with thee” Exodus 3:10–12
  4. “I AM THAT I AM” Exodus 3:14
  5. Moses’ rod turned into a serpent Exodus 4:2–4
  6. Aaron will be Moses’ mouth Exodus 4:14–16

Who is in this story

The lesson

God calls people who feel inadequate, and his answer to “Who am I?” is “I will be with thee.” The “I AM” of the bush is the one Jesus claims to be: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 3:14

Quick quiz on this story

What is remarkable about the bush Moses sees near Horeb?

What name does God reveal to Moses at the bush?

Whom does God appoint to speak to the people in Moses’ place?

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