The Burning Bush

Exodus 3

Moses fled from Egypt to get away from that life and out of fear and now he is in the wilderness as a Shepherd. Moses spent 40 years of his life in the enjoyment of royalty in Egypt and now was seeing the opposite. He spent 40 years in the wilderness where it was sometimes lonely. Moses was watching the flock by Mount Horeb and the Lord appeared to Moses by a burning bush but the bush was not being consumed by the fire. Immediately as God spoke Moses hid his face because he realized this was God.  

God’s speaks and Moses Questions

God told Moses the plan. He said, “He has heard and seen the affliction of his people.” He was going to use Moses to help in the process of delivering the Hebrews out of the bondage of Egypt. Remember Israel has been in slavery now for over 400 years.  Moses did not jump up right away with excitement over the Lord’s calling, he actually made an excuse. He said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out?” In all reality, Moses was raised and trained for this mighty task. He was Moses the boy saved out of the river, raised in a position of leadership. He was making an excuse because he was in the wilderness for 40 years, maybe he was hoping that he would have been forgotten. God responded with, “I will be with you.” Don’t worry about who you are just have faith and know that I have your back. God even said, “You will see that I am God.” Meaning once everything happens you will realize that I am God. 

Excuse #2

Moses could not take God’s answer for the first excuse, so he had to make another. As he was racking his brain for any excuse, he finally thought of one and said, “Well, who shall I say sent me?” God responded, “Tell them, The Great I Am, sent you.” God does not need some introduction other than He is God, the only God. Egypt during this time was a very religious culture. They believed in a lot of different gods. There was Ra the sun god as well as many others. They would even put Pharaoh as a deity or god in their religious system.  God told Moses that not only will Israel be set free but also will leave with the possessions of Egypt. Egypt will be so glad to get rid of you guys that they will be giving you their stuff. Also the Hebrews may not believe right away but they soon will see God’s mighty hand in this.

I always think what this might have been like. Moses being able to hear God, I wonder what went on through his mind? I wonder about this conversation between God and Moses and how patient God was with him. He could have been, “I asked you and you are making excuses, I can use anyone, and I will.” God still worked with Moses and all his doubt that he had. I think we all may not have a burning bush experience literally but we still have those times that God may speak to us. It may be the Holy Spirit directing us to go and share the Gospel with someone. It may be that we need to not do that sin. It may be that we are called to serve God. Either way do we answer the call. I am reminded of the story of Jonah who was called by God to be a prophet. He was called to go to a not so fun area called Nineveh, but instead ran away to the complete opposite direction. Do you run away from God’s call and make excuses or do you answer by saying, “I will Go”?