Exodus 3: Moses and the Burning Bush

Today's Podcast

Previously in Exodus

Given that it's been so long since I did a post on the bible (I had to go read my last two posts), I figured I would briefly remind everyone of the relevant stuff that happened in the last 2 chapter. Actually, I should probably just do this from now on. Why did I not think of this before?

The Pharaoh was afraid of the Israelite population explosion and tried to kill all of their male children. Moses escaped this fate and was adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter, putting him in a position of power. But he killed a slave driver and had to flee. He wound up in Midian and started a family.

The Burning Bush (v. 1-22)

Pic source

Moses was tending to his father-in-law's flock and saw a bush that was on fire but not being consumed. He went to look and heard God's voice coming from the bush. He told Moses to take off his shoes as it is holy ground, and told Moses who he was.

I'm not sure what to make of the idea that it is holy ground. I guess God has performed a miracle here and so it's holy ground, or perhaps since God's presence is there. Anyway, I'm wondering if there is more significance to it than I am aware.

haha, in Guzik's commentary he points out that Moses didn't see anyone, it was just a presence of God, yet he still insists that this is an instance where Jesus is appearing in the old testament. He cites 1 Timothy 6:16 which claims that no man has ever seen God. Instead of seeing the obvious contradiction here, he retrofits every instance of people seeing God to be them seeing Jesus instead.

God tells Moses that he has seen his people's suffering, and he is going to deliver them into a land of milk and honey, he's sending Moses to go do that. Moses says he's nobody and asks how he will accomplish the task, God says he'll be with him.

It's interesting that an all powerful God would use Moses in this way. Why not just snap his fingers and make it happen? Perhaps it's to teach Moses a lesson, but that seems to be causing a lot of pain and suffering for that end. If God were just a powerful being, but not all powerful, then this seems like a pretty cool thing to do to help his people. If he's all powerful it's honestly just confusing. It would seem that there are many better ways to accomplish his goals.

Moses asks what he should say to the Israelites. God says "I AM WHO I AM" and tells Moses to say "I AM has sent me to you"

What?

Apparently this is related to the name Yahweh.

God tells Moses to say God has sent him to take them to the land of milk and honey.

Again, I have questions about the methods of an all mighty God here, but bottom line he's helping his people, so good on him I suppose.

The king of Egypt won't let you simply leave, so God says he will strike them with wonders. He also will have the Egyptian women take valuables and give them to the Israelites, they will plunder the Egyptians as they are leaving.

Well this seems a bit unnecessary.

Guzik points out that they are not stealing from all of the Egyptians, but they are instead getting proper payment from years of slavery. This seems like a valid point, but the last verse says that they will plunder the Egyptians. This suggests more than just getting a fair price for their work.