Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 3
Exodus 3:5Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
God establishes the ground rules for encountering Him: His presence is holy and requires reverence, symbolized by Moses removing his sandals.Exodus 3:7-8Then 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, 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.
This is the heart of God's motivation. He is not a distant deity but one who sees, hears, knows, and comes down to rescue His people from their pain.Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
God reveals His personal, covenant name, 'I AM WHO I AM,' signifying that He is self-existent, eternal, and the ultimate reality behind all things.
Historical & Cultural Context
From Prince to Shepherd in the Wilderness
Forty years have passed since Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. The former prince is now a humble shepherd, living a quiet life in exile in the land of Midian. He has a family and a routine, far removed from the power and politics of the empire he left behind. This season of quiet obscurity has prepared him for the monumental task that lies ahead, even though he doesn't know it yet.
An Unexplainable Fire and a Divine Voice
While leading his flock, Moses is drawn to a bizarre sight: a bush on fire that isn't burning up. This supernatural sign is God's way of getting his attention in the middle of an ordinary day. It's a divine interruption, a moment where heaven breaks into earth to initiate a conversation that will change the course of history and define the identity of God's people forever.
The Call of Moses at the Burning Bush
The chapter unfolds at the base of Mount Horeb, known as 'the mountain of God.' Here, in the remote wilderness, Moses's mundane life as a shepherd is interrupted by a direct and awe-inspiring encounter with the living God. This conversation lays the foundation for the entire Exodus, revealing God's heart for His people and His plan for their freedom.
The Holy Encounter (Exodus 3:1-6)
1 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.
Commentary:
God gets Moses's attention with a miraculous burning bush and reveals the ground is holy because of His presence.
Related Verse Analysis
The Divine Commission (Exodus 3:7-10)
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.
9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."
Commentary:
God declares He has seen Israel's suffering and is sending Moses to Pharaoh to lead them to freedom.
The Question of Identity (Exodus 3:11-15)
11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: '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, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Commentary:
Moses doubts his ability, but God promises His presence and reveals His personal name, 'I AM,' as the ultimate authority.
The Plan and the Promise (Exodus 3:16-22)
16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt,
17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.
20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
22 But each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians."
Commentary:
God outlines the plan for confronting Pharaoh, predicting his resistance but promising Israel's eventual liberation and provision.
Key Themes in Moses's Divine Encounter
The Holiness of God
The command for Moses to remove his sandals shows that God's presence is utterly sacred and separate from the common. This is more than a physical act. It is a posture of the heart, signifying humility, reverence, and the recognition that one is entering a space defined by God's perfect purity and power.
God's Compassion for the Oppressed
This chapter powerfully reveals God's heart for those who are suffering. He is not distant or indifferent to the pain of the Israelites. His declaration that He has 'seen,' 'heard,' and 'knows' their suffering shows His intimate and compassionate involvement in the lives of His people.
The Revelation of God's Name
When God reveals His name as 'I AM WHO I AM' (Yahweh), He is giving Moses and Israel the foundation of their faith. This name means He is self-existent, unchanging, and eternally present. It's a promise that the God who is sending them is the ultimate source of all being and power, and He will be faithfully present with them.
The Calling of the Unlikely
God doesn't choose a powerful prince or a celebrated warrior. He calls a forgotten shepherd full of self-doubt. Moses's question, 'Who am I?' is met with God's answer, 'I will be with you.' This theme shows that God's work is accomplished not through human strength or status, but through His empowering presence in the lives of those who obey Him.
Applying the Burning Bush to Your Life
Moses felt completely unqualified, asking, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?' (Exodus 3:11). God's response wasn't to list Moses's qualifications, but to promise His own presence: 'But I will be with you' (Exodus 3:12). This teaches you that when God calls you to a task, your ability is not the main issue. His presence with you is what makes all the difference.
The ground wasn't special in itself. God's presence made it holy (Exodus 3:5). This reminds you that any place - your office, your home, your car - can become a sacred space when you are conscious of God's presence. This invites you to approach God with reverence and awe, not only in a church building, but also in the ordinary moments of your life.
The name 'I AM' (Exodus 3:14) means God is the one constant, unchanging reality in a world that is always shifting. He is not a God of the past or future, but one who is always present and active. This gives you deep assurance that He is sufficient for whatever you are facing right now, because His existence and power are not dependent on your circumstances.
God Sees, Hears, and Delivers
Exodus 3 reveals a God who is not distant but is deeply and compassionately involved in human suffering. He sees the pain of His people, hears their cries, and personally intervenes to rescue them. The calling of Moses from a burning bush is more than a commission for one man. It is a powerful declaration of God's character: He is the holy, promise-keeping 'I AM' who uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans for redemption.
What This Means for Us Today
The encounter at the burning bush is a significant invitation. God calls Moses from a place of exile and obscurity into a history-changing purpose. In the same way, God meets us in the wilderness of our own lives, inviting us to recognize His holy presence and participate in His work of liberation and restoration in the world.
- Where in your life might a 'burning bush' be trying to get your attention?
- What 'sandals' of self-reliance or pride do you need to remove to stand on holy ground with God?
- Who are the oppressed or suffering people God is calling you to see and act for today?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details Moses's birth, his rescue from the Nile, his life in Pharaoh's court, and his flight to Midian, setting the stage for his 40 years in the wilderness.
The conversation continues as Moses raises more objections, God provides him with miraculous signs, and he finally agrees to return to Egypt to begin his mission.
Connections Across Scripture
In his final sermon, Stephen recounts the story of the burning bush, highlighting it as a key moment in God's history with Israel.
Jesus claims the divine name for Himself, declaring, 'before Abraham was, I am,' directly connecting His identity to the God who spoke to Moses from the bush.
This passage reflects on Moses's faith, explaining that he chose to suffer with God's people because he was looking ahead to his reward and 'endured as seeing him who is invisible.'
Discussion Questions
- God used a burning bush to get Moses's attention. What are some of the ways God gets your attention in the middle of your ordinary life?
- Moses's first reaction to God's call was, 'Who am I?' (Exodus 3:11). When have you felt inadequate for something you were called to do, and how does God's promise, 'I will be with you,' change your perspective?
- God revealed His name as 'I AM WHO I AM' (Exodus 3:14). What does this name tell you about God's character, and why was it so important for Moses and the Israelites to have this name to hold onto?
Glossary
places
Midian
A region in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula where Moses lived in exile as a shepherd for 40 years.
Horeb
The mountain where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, also known as Mount Sinai.
Egypt
The powerful ancient empire where the Israelites were enslaved and from which God planned to deliver them.
figures
Moses
An Israelite raised as an Egyptian prince who fled into exile and was called by God to deliver his people from slavery.
Jethro
A priest of Midian who was Moses's father-in-law.
Pharaoh
The title for the king of Egypt, who was considered a god and was the oppressor of the Israelites.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
The patriarchs of Israel to whom God first made covenant promises about their descendants and the Promised Land.