EXODUS 3
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. – Exodus 3:1-8
EXODUS 3 THE BURNING BUSH
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As Moses led Jethro’s flock towards the mountain at Horeb
An angel appeared to him in a fire in a bush that was burning
The burning bush wasn’t consumed, so he took a closer look
But God called him not to come near and to take his sandals off.
Moses’ life had drastically changed while he was in Midian. In Egypt, he was part of the household of the Pharaoh, now, he is part of the household of Jethro, the priest. What a difference in lifestyle. But I am sure that God had this planned all along so he can prepare Moses for the task at hand. It was in his humble role as a shepherd that the Lord God showed himself to him, not while he was in Egypt. Moses drew near the burning bush to find out why it wasn’t being consumed, but God himself stopped him. We know that the bible says that no one can see God and live. So, it was a loving warning for Moses not to come close.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think God personally showed himself to Moses in the burning bush?
