The Burning Bush And God Calls Moses As Deliverer

The Burning Bush And God Calls

Moses As Deliverer

I. Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-6)

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian,

leading the flock to Horeb (Sinai).

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst

of a bush; and the bush burned with fire, yet it was not consumed.

When Moses turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the

bush - "Moses, Moses!"

God commanded, "Do not come near; take your sandals off, for the place you

are standing is holy ground."

He revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses hid

his face in fear.

II. God's Call to Deliver Israel (3:7-10)

God said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people in Egypt and have

heard their cry."

He was aware of their sufferings and would deliver them to a land "flowing

with milk and honey."

God declared He would send Moses to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out

of Egypt.

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people out of Egypt."

(Pivotal calling)

III. Moses' Objections and God's Reassurances (3:11-22)

Moses raised objections about his own inadequacy and whether the Israelites

would believe him.

God reassured Moses He would be with him and gave him signs to validate

his calling.

God revealed His personal name YHWH ("I AM WHO I AM") and instructions to

gather Israel's elders.

Though Pharaoh would initially refuse, God would ultimately force him to let

Israel go after mighty acts.

The Israelites would then plunder the Egyptians before their exodus, not

leaving empty-handed.

IV. The Staff Becomes a Serpent (4:1-9)

Moses again protested that the Israelites would not believe or listen to him.

God gave him two validating signs - his staff turning into a serpent and his

hand becoming leprous.

If they still did not believe after these signs, God instructed taking water from

the Nile to turn to blood.

V. Moses' Final Objection and God's Anger (4:10-17)

Moses pleaded his inability as a speaker, saying he was "slow of speech and

tongue."

God grew angry at this objection, asking "Who has made man's mouth? Is it

not I, the LORD?"

God reassured He would be with Moses' mouth and teach him what to say.

As a concession, God appointed Moses' brother Aaron as a spokesman, with

Moses as God's representative.

Key Themes and Points

The burning bush was a powerful sign of God's holy presence and call on

Moses' life

Despite objections, God repeatedly reassures Moses with promises of

enablement

God reveals His personal covenant name YHWH and promises mighty acts

against Pharaoh

Moses will function as a representative of God with miraculous signs

validating his calling

Aaron's role as spokesman highlights the shared human partnership in

this mission

This pivotal chapter records God's direct call for Moses to return to Egypt as the

human instrument for liberating the Israelites from slavery. Despite Moses'

objections about his inadequacy, God promises His powerful presence and

reassures him with validating signs and His personal name YHWH.

The burning bush itself is a striking supernatural sign that clearly marks this as a

holy encounter in which the God of the patriarchs is revealing Himself and His

purposes. Moses is being commissioned for a monumental mission that will

require God's enabling might against Pharaoh's resistance.

By appointing Aaron as Moses' spokesman, God underscores that this redemptive

mission will involve a partnership of human roles. Yet God Himself, through His

covenant name and mighty acts, will be the primary active agent orchestrating

Israel's deliverance from bondage according to His promises.

This chapter sets the stage for the subsequent dramatic confrontation with Pharaoh

and plagues that will display God's power and sovereignty. It transitions the book's

narrative into the pivotal events of the Exodus journey itself after laying the

groundwork in earlier chapters.

The Burning Bush - God Calls Moses as Deliverer

I. Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-6)

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, leading

the flock to Horeb (Sinai).

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush;

and the bush burned with fire, yet it was not consumed.

When Moses turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush -

"Moses, Moses!"

God commanded, "Do not come near; take your sandals off, for the place you are

standing is holy ground."

He revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses hid his

face in fear.

II. God's Call to Deliver Israel (3:7-10)

God said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard

their cry."

He was aware of their sufferings and would deliver them to a land "flowing with milk

and honey."

God declared He would send Moses to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people out of Egypt."

(Pivotal calling)

III. Moses' Objections and God's Reassurances (3:11-22)

Moses raised objections about his own inadequacy and whether the Israelites would

believe him.

God reassured Moses He would be with him and gave him signs to validate his

calling.

God revealed His personal name YHWH ("I AM WHO I AM") and instructions to

gather Israel's elders.

Though Pharaoh would initially refuse, God would ultimately force him to let Israel

go after mighty acts.

The Israelites would then plunder the Egyptians before their exodus, not leaving

empty-handed.

IV. The Staff Becomes a Serpent (4:1-9)

Moses again protested that the Israelites would not believe or listen to him.

God gave him two validating signs - his staff turning into a serpent and his hand

becoming leprous.

If they still did not believe after these signs, God instructed taking water from the

Nile to turn to blood.

V. Moses' Final Objection and God's Anger (4:10-17)

Moses pleaded his inability as a speaker, saying he was "slow of speech and

tongue."

God grew angry at this objection, asking "Who has made man's mouth? Is it not I,

the LORD?"

God reassured He would be with Moses' mouth and teach him what to say.

As a concession, God appointed Moses' brother Aaron as a spokesman, with Moses

as God's representative.

Key Themes and Points

The burning bush was a powerful sign of God's holy presence and call on Moses' life

Despite objections, God repeatedly reassures Moses with promises of enablement

God reveals His personal covenant name YHWH and promises mighty acts against

Pharaoh

Moses will function as a representative of God with miraculous signs validating his

calling

Aaron's role as spokesman highlights the shared human partnership in this mission

This pivotal chapter records God's direct call for Moses to return to Egypt as the

human instrument for liberating the Israelites from slavery. Despite Moses'

objections about his inadequacy, God promises His powerful presence and

reassures him with validating signs and His personal name YHWH.

The burning bush itself is a striking supernatural sign that clearly marks this as a

holy encounter in which the God of the patriarchs is revealing Himself and His

purposes. Moses is being commissioned for a monumental mission that will require

God's enabling might against Pharaoh's resistance.

By appointing Aaron as Moses' spokesman, God underscores that this redemptive

mission will involve a partnership of human roles. Yet God Himself, through His

covenant name and mighty acts, will be the primary active agent orchestrating

Israel's deliverance from bondage according to His promises.

This chapter sets the stage for the subsequent dramatic confrontation with Pharaoh

and plagues that will display God's power and sovereignty. It transitions the book's

narrative into the pivotal events of the Exodus journey itself after laying the

groundwork in earlier chapters.

The Burning Bush - God Calls Moses as Deliverer

I. Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-6)

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, leading

the flock to Horeb (Sinai).

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush;

and the bush burned with fire, yet it was not consumed.

When Moses turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush -

"Moses, Moses!"

God commanded, "Do not come near; take your sandals off, for the place you are

standing is holy ground."

He revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses hid his

face in fear.

II. God's Call to Deliver Israel (3:7-10)

God said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard

their cry."

He was aware of their sufferings and would deliver them to a land "flowing with milk

and honey."

God declared He would send Moses to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people out of Egypt."

(Pivotal calling)

III. Moses' Objections and God's Reassurances (3:11-22)

Moses raised objections about his own inadequacy and whether the Israelites would

believe him.

God reassured Moses He would be with him and gave him signs to validate his

calling.

God revealed His personal name YHWH ("I AM WHO I AM") and instructions to

gather Israel's elders.

Though Pharaoh would initially refuse, God would ultimately force him to let Israel

go after mighty acts.

The Israelites would then plunder the Egyptians before their exodus, not leaving

empty-handed.

IV. The Staff Becomes a Serpent (4:1-9)

Moses again protested that the Israelites would not believe or listen to him.

God gave him two validating signs - his staff turning into a serpent and his hand

becoming leprous.

If they still did not believe after these signs, God instructed taking water from the

Nile to turn to blood.

V. Moses' Final Objection and God's Anger (4:10-17)

Moses pleaded his inability as a speaker, saying he was "slow of speech and

tongue."

God grew angry at this objection, asking "Who has made man's mouth? Is it not I,

the LORD?"

God reassured He would be with Moses' mouth and teach him what to say.

As a concession, God appointed Moses' brother Aaron as a spokesman, with Moses

as God's representative.

Key Themes and Points

The burning bush was a powerful sign of God's holy presence and call on Moses' life

Despite objections, God repeatedly reassures Moses with promises of enablement