Exodus 3 recounts a pivotal encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush. Moses, while tending to his father-in-law’s flock, came to Mount Horeb, where he noticed a bush engulfed in flames but not consumed. As he approached, God called out to Moses from the midst of the bush, instructing him to remove his sandals as the ground was holy. God then revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising to deliver the Israelites from their oppression in Egypt and lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey.
Feeling inadequate for such a task, Moses questioned God’s choice, but God assured him of His presence and pledged to provide the necessary signs to authenticate Moses’ divine commission. Moses inquired about God’s name to relay to the Israelites, and God responded with the famous declaration, “I AM THAT I AM,” signifying His eternal existence and self-sufficiency. God commanded Moses to gather the elders of Israel and request Pharaoh’s permission to embark on a three-day journey to worship Him in the wilderness.
This encounter with God at the burning bush marks the beginning of Moses’ transformative journey as the leader of the Israelites and the instrument through which God would bring about their liberation. To delve deeper into the context and significance of each verse, click the links below: