seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.
16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’
18 “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.”
This is the link to the commentary for Exodus 3.Who am I: 40 years before, Moses thought he knew who he was: he was a prince of Egypt and a Hebrew, God’s chosen instrument to deliver Israel. After forty years of chasing sheep around the desert, Moses didn’t have the same self-sure confidence that he once had.
When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain: As Moses tended his flock in the wilderness, it probably seemed totally unlikely that he would lead all three million of his people to this same mountain — but God promised that this would be so.
I AM has sent me to you: God told Moses His name was I AM because God simply is; there was never a time when He did not exist, or a time when He will cease to exist.
To the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him… let us go three days journey into the wilderness: God presented the smaller request to Pharaoh first so that the request would be as appealing and as easy to accept as possible. He did this so Pharaoh would have no excuse at all for refusing God and hardening his heart.
Good morning. Welcome to the Burning Bush Story in the Bible!
I don't know anything about the burning bush plant. I know there is a plant that is called the "burning bush" but it's more of the color than the actual act of breaking out in flames that would lead to a forest fire. I've heard stories about what might have caused the burning bush to be a burning bush. I've heard stories about chemical composition. I think the question of "was the bush really on fire or did it just appear to be on fire" is for smarter, more learned people than I. The Bible says it got Moses' attention. So, Moses went over to "have a look" and God started the conversation.
The point of the story has nothing to do with the burning bush. It could have been a talking crocodile or a talking bird.... it just had to get attention. The point of the story is "God talked to Moses".
As God explained it to Moses, the Israelites had to get out of Egypt and get back to Canaan. Those cursed sons of sons of Ham were taking over Canaan, and the land of Canaan was supposed to be for Shem's sons and grandsons and great, great, whatever grandsons. The Israelites had to get out of Egypt and get to Canaan as originally planned. Moses was chosen to lead them out of Egypt.
The whole reason for Moses' lifesaving trip down the Nile as a baby in a pitch coated basket into the arms of Pharaoh's daughter, was so that Moses would be a respected man in Egypt. After all, Moses was a Prince in Egypt. He would be the perfect candidate to speak to Pharaoh about the fate of the Israelites.
God even told Moses; Pharaoh wouldn't just let the people go. So, God told Moses to give Pharaoh the "three-day trip" scenario so that Pharaoh could easily deny the request, and get the fiasco started. God told Moses the Egyptians will gladly give the Israelites their gold and silver to finance the trip when all this was worked out.
I'm not smart enough to discuss the name of God. God says His name is "I Am". Ok.
Just let me bring this to the table. When God and Jesus are standing side by side... and someone asks "which one of you is God" wouldn't God say "I Am"?
Anyway... Welcome to one of the Old Testament Bible Stories as well-known as Noah's Flood.
It's the Burning Bush!
