Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the wilderness, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed. 3 So Moses decided, “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, “Here I am.” 5 God said: Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father, he continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 But the Lord said: I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry against their taskmasters, so I know well what they are suffering. 8 Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 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 God answered: I will be with you; and this will be your sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God at this mountain.
Exodus 3:1-12 recounts Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses, now a shepherd tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, is depicted in a humble role that contrasts sharply with his royal upbringing in Pharaoh's court (Ex. 2:1-10). He leads the flock near Mount Horeb, also called Sinai, which is associated with divine revelation (Ex. 19:3). Shepherding often symbolizes preparation for leadership, as seen in the lives of David (1 Sam. 16:11) and Christ, the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11).
The angel of the Lord, representing a manifestation of God's presence, appears to Moses in a bush that burns but is not consumed. Fire, a frequent biblical symbol of holiness and divine presence (Ex. 19:18; Deut. 4:24), captures Moses’ attention, drawing him to the sacred encounter. God calls Moses by name twice, emphasizing His call's urgency and personal nature (Ex. 3:4). He instructs Moses to remove his sandals, an act of reverence acknowledging the holiness of the ground sanctified by God's presence.
God reaffirms His covenant promises by identifying Himself with the patriarchs (Gen. 12:1-3; 26:3-4; 28:13-15). Moses acknowledges the overwhelming holiness of God by hiding his face similar to Elijah (1 Kgs. 19:13). God tells Moses that he has heard His people’s prayers and will directly intervene, paralleling the incarnation (Jn. 1:14), to lead them out of Egypt to a land of abundance. This foreshadows Christ leading believers to the ultimate promised land (Rev. 21:1-4). This connection highlights God’s consistent pattern of fulfilling His covenant promises through Moses and ultimately through Christ, who leads His people to eternal life.
God calls Moses to be His instrument of deliverance, prefiguring Christ's mission to liberate humanity from sin (John 8:34-36). Moses' role as mediator foreshadows Christ as the ultimate mediator of the new covenant (1 Tim. 2:5). Moses, aware of his limitations, doubts his abilities and worthiness to confront Pharoah but God assures him that he will be divinely empowered for the task. This echoes God’s choice of the weak and humble to accomplish His purposes, a theme reiterated in Paul’s teaching (1 Cor. 1:27-29). It also parallels Christ’s assurance to His disciples (Matt. 28:20).
The themes of divine calling, covenant, and deliverance in Exodus 3:1-12 resonate profoundly with Hebrews 3:1-6. The author of Hebrews describes Jesus as the faithful Son over God's house, surpassing Moses, who was a faithful servant. Moses' mission to lead Israel prefigures Christ's mission to redeem humanity. The burning bush, as a sign of God's presence and sustaining power, parallels the Incarnation, where God's fullness dwells in Christ (Col. 2:9).
Almighty God, You revealed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, calling him to lead Your people to freedom. Help us to trust in Your presence as we respond to Your call in our lives. Strengthen us in humility and courage, that we may faithfully serve You and proclaim Your glory. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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