THE BURNING BUSH AND MOSES’ CALL–LESSON 3

LESSON 3

THE BURNING BUSH AND MOSES’ CALL

——Outline by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison
Exodus 3:1-22

Memory Verse: Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Although Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds, nevertheless, he was not ready to lead Israel out of Egypt. He spent 40 years in the desert keeping the flock, before he was put in charge of God’s flock, Acts 7:23, “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.” Exodus 7:7, “And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.”

In the desert he had time for meditation and communion with God. There was a interval of FORTY YEARS BETWEEN chapters TWO and THREE, Isaiah 28:16, “…he that believeth shall not make haste.”

God does not call the lazy and indolent. HE CALLS BUSY PEIPLE:

David, 1 Samuel 17:20, “And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.”

Elisha, 1 Kings 19:19-21, “So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.”

Simon, Andrew, James and John, Mark 1:16-20, “Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

Matthew, Matthew 9:9, “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”

I. THE CALL OF MOSES vv. 1-10

A. The Vision of the BURNING BUSH, vv. 1-3.

1. Moses the SHEPHERD, v. 1. Sometimes a person must go to the backside of the desert to be taught to depend on God.

a. As a shepherd, he is a TYPE of Christ, John 10:11, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

b. As a “good shepherd” THE LORD leads his flock, John 10:3-4, 11, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

c. As the good shepherd MOSES led them to HOREB the “mountain of God.” HOREB (ho’reb, = drought, desert):

1) Mount Horeb is another name for Mount SINAI, Exodus 19:10-11, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.”

2) The mountain where Moses RECEIVED his COMMISSION, Exodus 3:1, “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.”

3) Where he brought WATER OUT OF THE ROCK in Rephidim Exodus 17:6, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

4) Where the people stripped off their ornaments IN TOKEN OF REPENTANCE, Exodus 33:6, “And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.”

5) It was eleven days’ journey from KADESH-BARNEA, Deuteronomy 1:2, “(There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)”

6) Horeb is mentioned also in Deuteronomy 1:6, 19; 4:10,15; 5:2; 9:8; 18:16; 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10; Psalm 106:19; Malachi 4:4.

01. Horeb mentioned in connection with the JOURNEYS of Israel;

02. “ “ “ “ “ the GIVING of the LAW;

03. And EVENTS of the year in which the Israelites stayed nearby.

6) ELIJAH fled to Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8, “And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

2. The BURNING BUSH, v. 2.

a. The bush was NOT CONSUMED, because God was in it.

b. This was a THEOPHANIC APPEARANCE of the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, the angel is called Lord and God in v. 4.

1) The bush was a TYPE of ISRAEL, Deuteronomy 4:20, “But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.”

2) And a TYPE of the CHURCH, Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

3) Anything that God is in is PRESERVED by His PRESENCE, Isaiah 43:1-2, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

3. Moses turns aside to see, v. 3, Psalms 107:8, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his WONDERFUL WORKS to the children of men!” Only God could cause the bush to burn and not yet be consumed.

a. This was SOMETHING to be REMEMBERED, Psalms 111:4, “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.”

b. This was the GLORIOUS WORK of God, Psalms 111:3, “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.”

B. The VOICE of God from the Burning Bush, vv. 4-6.

1. It was the LORD (God the Son before called “the angel”) in the bush, [Jehovah = ADONAI — This term is mentioned in connection with Jehovah and is the Hebrew word for “Lord” or “Master,” v. 4.

Note: “When the God of the Bible is thus addressed or identified, we are to view Him as the One who demands and expects obedience and controls the affairs of individuals as well as the universe.” —Paul S. Karleen, The Handbook to Bible Study. The Jews WOULD NOT PRONOUNCE or WRITE God’s name.

a. The word for “BUSH” is only found in one other passage, Deuteronomy 33:16, “And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.”

b. The word for “dwelt” in that verse, is the Hebrew “shakan,” which leads us to the SHEKINAH GLORY (the visible sign of God’s presence on the Ark of Testimony in the Holy of Holies) which Moses saw, Exodus 25:22, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

Note: “The Shekinah, the radiance, glory or presence of God dwelling in the midst of his people, is used by Targumist and Rabbi to signify God himself, for legal Judaism dislikes ascribing form or emotion to deity. Nevertheless the God conceived in purified human terms inspired the noblest prophetic utterances, whereas the legalist God became cold, abstract, aloof.” —R. D. Wood, The New Bible Dictionary.

2. “The LORD saw…” “God called,” v. 4.

Note: This utterly shatters the Elohim – Jehovah two God theory of the liberals. Here He is CALLED BOTH Jehovah (LORD) and Elohim (God) in the same verse. “Elohim” is the plural form of “El” (God) Hebrew, and can mean gods, but is applied also to the God of the Bible. Many have suggested that this grammatically plural form is designed to reflect the plurality of the Trinity. —Paul S. Karleen, The Handbook to Bible Study.

3. The DOUBLE call, “Moses, Moses,” implies urgency, v. 4; 1 Samuel 3:10, “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

4. The MAJESTY and HOLINESS of God, v. 5; Exodus 19:11, 13, “And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 13 There shall NOT an hand TOUCH IT, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up TO the mount.”

a. Too often God is TREATED AS IF He were a MERE MAN, but He is the HOLY GOD and should be treated with GREAT FEAR and REVERENCE, Isaiah 6:3, “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

1) God told Moses to remove his sandals, Joshua 5:15, “And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

2) The ground was holy NOT BY ITS NATURE but BECAUSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

b. John declared His HOLINESS and that He is ETERNAL, Revelation 4:8, “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

c. John speaks of His GREATNESS and that He is KING OF SAINTS, Revelation 15:3-4, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

5. God IDENTIFIES HIMSELF, v. 6; Exodus 4:5, “That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.”

a. Here was the GOD OF THE LIVING, Matthew 22:32, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

b. Here was the God of the RESURRECTION, Luke 20:37, “Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

C. The Victory Promised, vv. 7-10.

1. The Lord’s FOURFOLD COMPASSION, vv. 7-8.

a. In our day the world (Egypt) has multitudes in the BONDAGE of IMMORALITY, DRINK, DRUGS, and OTHER LUSTS of the flesh.

b. They DESPERATELY NEED DELIVERANCE and ONLY GOD CAN GIVE IT, 2 Timothy 2:26, “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

1) He had SEEN their AFFLICTION; He is CONCERNED, John 10:13, 15, “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.”

2) He had HEARD their CRY; He is COMPASSIONATE, Matthew 9:36, “ But when he saw the multitudes, he was MOVED WITH COMPASSION on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

3) He KNEW their SORROWS; He is CHARITABLE, John 16:27, “For the Father himself LOVETH YOU, because YE HAVE LOVED ME, and have believed that I came out from God.”

4) He CAME down TO DELIVER; He is CONSIDERATE, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

2. The Lord’s THREEFOLD PURPOSE, v. 8.

Notice that God is positive regarding what He will do. There are no “ifs,” “maybes,” or “perhaps” with God.

a. To DELIVER them OUT of the HAND of the Egyptians, Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”

b. To BRING them OUT of Egypt, Isaiah 42:7, “To open the blind eyes, TO BRING OUT the PRISONERS from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison

c. To BRING them INTO Canaan, Exodus 6:4, “And I have also established my covenant with them, TO GIVE THEM the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.”

3. The CALL of Moses, vv. 9-10.

a. The cry of the Hebrews had come up to God, v. 9; Exodus 2:23, “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.”

b. Come now therefore, leave thy flock, thy family, and the land of Midian, Psalms 105:26, “He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.”

Note: God ALWAYS FINISHES what He sets out to do. Moses must have been SURPRISED that God would call him, after all he had FAILED IN DELIVERING them some 40 YEARS BEFORE.

II. THE CONVINCING OF MOSES vv. 11-14

A. The UNWILLINGNESS of Moses, vv. 11, 13.

1. RELUCTANT because of SELF, “Who am I?” v. 11; Genesis 18:27, “And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:”

a. HOW DIFFERENT than the Moses of Forty years in the past; THEN he was BRASH, BOLD, and WILLING and had been LIKE A HORSE RUSHING AHEAD of God.

b. NOW he is like a STUBBORN MULE, Psalm 32:9, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.”

2. RELUCTANT because of his LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, v. 13.

a. Moses SAW DIFFICULTY IN DEALING with PHARAOH, to make him willing to part with them.

b. He saw difficulty in dealing WITH ISRAEL, to make them willing to leave.

c. He felt that Israel would have QUESTIONS he could not answer.

B. The WILLINGNESS of God, vv. 12, 14.

1. He was WILLING TO GO WITH MOSES and to give him a SIGN, v. 12.

a. God’s presence was ALL he needed, for it would be God that would do the WORK. Moses was ONLY AN INSTRUMENT in the hand of God. Joshua 1:5, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

b. God UPHOLDS US with the RIGHT HAND of His righteousness, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

c. God is ON OUR SIDE, Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

d. He is OUR STRENGTH, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

2. He was willing TO REVEAL HIMSELF as the “ I AM,” v. 14.

a. Jesus Christ revealed that HE was the “I am.” John 6:35, 48, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 48 I am that bread of life.”

b. He is the LIGHT of the world, John 8:12, 58, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 58

c. He was BEFORE Abraham, John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

d. He is the GOOD SHEPHERD, John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

e. He is the TRUE VINE, John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

f. He is the ALPHA and OMEGA, Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

III. THE COMMISSION OF MOSES vv. 15-22

A. What Moses Was Commissioned To Do, vv. 15-18.

1. He was to tell them that the UNCHANGING GOD had SENT HIM, v. 15.

a. The God of the LIVING, Mark 12:26-27, “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the GOD OF THE LIVING: ye therefore do greatly err.”

b. The God of THEIR FATHERS, Exodus 4:5, “That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.”

c. The UNCHANGING God, Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

2. He was TO GATHER the ELDERS of Israel, v. 16.

a. Assemble the heads of the tribes, Exodus 4:29, “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:”

b. God has surely visited you as Joseph said, Exodus 13:19, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”

3. He was TO GIVE to the elders GOD’S MESSAGE, v. 17.

a. A message of God’s deliverance.

1) I have heard your groaning, Exodus 2:24, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”

2) God had perceived their difficulties, Exodus 2:25, “And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”

b. The fulfillment of God’s promise to visit His people in their distress, Psalms 12:5, “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.”

4. He was TO DELIVER a MESSAGE TO THE KING, v. 18; Exodus 5:1, “And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”

5. The PROMISE to Moses, v. 18; Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

B. What God Promised To Do, vv. 19-22.

1. He promised to make Pharaoh GIVE UP Israel, vv. 19-20.

2. He promised to make the Egyptians GIVE UP WEALTH to Israel, vv. 21-22.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

1. What occupation was Moses following?

2. Why was the bush not consumed?

3. Who spoke from the burning bush?

4. How long of time intervened between chapters 2 and 3?

5. When God said “Moses, Moses,” what did that imply?

6. Why was Moses to remove his shoes?

7. How is “Elohim” translated into English? How is “Jehovah” translated into English?

8. How do the Scriptures reveal that God was acquainted with Israel’s problem?

9. What did God say He would do for Israel?

10. Why was Moses reluctant to go back to Egypt?

11. How did Moses know that victory was certain?

12. Who was Moses to say had sent him?

13. How did Moses know that Israel would hear him?