Moses and the Burning Bush
Moses and the Burning Bush
Class Notes
The Story
The story of Moses begins during the time that the Isrealites were living in slavery in
The population of the Israelites had grown to sizable numbers which made them a potential threat to the Pharaoh. He ordered that every newborn son of the Israelites be killed. Moses was born soon after that decree. His mother hid him in the bulrushes. Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses and took him to be raised as part of the royal family. Moses’ sister witnessed this happening and it was arranged that his real mother would be hired to care for him. Exodus 2:1-9
When Moses had grown to be a young man, he witnessed an Egyptian overseer beating a Hebrew slave with a whip. Infuriated at the treatment of the slave, Moses beat the man to death. Then he fled into the mountains. He lived with a Midianite shepherd and married the man’s daughter. Exodus 2:11-21
One day, while scouting new pastureland, Moses saw a burning bush. The bush was burning, but was not consumed by the flame. God called from the bush. God asked Moses to help him free his people from slavery. Moses doubted whether he was worthy of the task. God assured him that he would be with Moses. Moses doubted whether the Israelites would believe that it really was God who has sent Moses. God told him to remind them of the covenant he had made with his people, that they would be lead to a promised land. God also said that He knew the Pharaoh needed to be compelled by a mighty hand and that he had wonders to work to do that. Exodus 3
Moses continued to protest. God answered his doubts by giving him special powers to do signs that would persuade the Israelites that he had indeed been sent by God. Moses argued again, saying that he was not eloquent. God told him to take his brother Aaron who was well spoken with him. Finally Moses agreed to follow God’s will and go to
Things to think about:
The dialog between Moses and God prompts us to discuss various understandings of God: God as the great “I am”, as the Hebrews see God as being beyond description and therefore cannot be “named” directly by man, God as the great known and unknown.
Moses over the years became one of the greatest leaders of God’s people. In the story of the burning bush told above, Moses is reluctant to follow God’s will. He doubts his own abilities. He doubts that he can really be a representative of God. Over time he grows in his faith and, despite great difficulties, disappointments and frustrations, he tries always to do his very best to know God’s will and to follow it steadfastly.
We may never come across a burning bush. What would it be like to be called by God? However, there are signs from God all around us every day if we are only aware of them. We can hear the small vice in our head that speaks up from time to time to urge us to do something. We can, if we are playing close attention, come across opportunities in our daily lives to be one of God’s people by standing up for what is right, being kind, helpful and thoughtful, etc. At times we may come across circumstances that ask that we step forward to be a leader. It would be natural for us to doubt oursleves at moments like this. After all, like Moses we are only human. It would be very natural to doubt that we are in fact doing God’s work. However, like Moses, all that we need to do the right thing is faith. Moses didn’t seem to have much faith in the beginning, but it grew as he continues to do God’s will and to know that God was with him helping him. The same can be true for us.
