Moses and the Burning Bush

Moses: Called from the Wilderness

From Palace to Pasture

In the vast, sun-scorched wilderness of Midian, a solitary figure moved among the flocks. His name was Moses. Once clothed in Egyptian splendor as a prince of Pharaoh’s court, he now wore the simple garments of a shepherd. Time had passed since he fled Egypt—fleeing not only its wealth but also its wrath after defending a Hebrew man by taking the life of an Egyptian.

In Midian, Moses had carved out a quiet life. He married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian, and became a father to two sons: Gershom and Eliezer. Though the desert was barren, Moses found a strange kind of peace in the simplicity. Yet in the stillness of his life, he could not forget his people—the Israelites—still toiling under Egyptian oppression.

Far from the cries of Hebrew slaves, Moses’ heart ached. He wondered why he had been spared. Why had God allowed him to escape, to start again, to live free while his people suffered in chains?

The Flame That Did Not Consume

One day, as he led his flock through the wilderness near Horeb—the mountain of God—Moses encountered the extraordinary. Amid the dust and rocks, a bush burned with fire but was not consumed. The flames danced but did not devour.

Exodus 3:3 says:
“So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’”

As he approached, a voice called from within the fire.

Exodus 3:4:
“God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’”

Exodus 3:5 continues:
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Moses obeyed, removing his sandals and hiding his face, filled with awe and fear.

Then the voice of God declared a lineage that anchored Moses to the divine promises of old.

Exodus 3:6:
“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

The God of covenant. The God of promises. The God who remembers.

God’s Compassion and Commission

The Lord shared His heart with Moses, and His words shattered the silence of centuries.

Exodus 3:7-8:
“I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them… and to bring them… to a land flowing with milk and honey.”

These words weren’t just poetic—they were prophetic. The God who saw, heard, and knew the pain of His people was ready to act. And Moses was to be His chosen instrument.

Exodus 3:10:
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Excuses in the Face of the Eternal

Moses’ heart likely pounded in his chest. The memory of Egypt, the weight of failure, the fear of Pharaoh—all of it surged forward.

Exodus 3:11:
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

But God’s answer was not a motivational speech—it was a promise.

Exodus 3:12:
“I will be with you.”

Still, Moses questioned. What would he say? What name would he give to validate his call?

Exodus 3:14:
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’”

This was not just a name. It was a revelation. God is not one among many—He is existence itself. Eternal. Unchanging. Absolute.

God gave Moses further instructions and signs. He would throw his staff on the ground and it would become a snake. His hand would turn leprous and then be healed again. Yet Moses’ fear still lingered.

Exodus 4:10:
“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue.”

But the Lord replied with authority and grace.

Exodus 4:11-12:
“Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?… Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Moses still resisted.

Exodus 4:13:
“Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Then came the anger of the Lord—not to destroy Moses, but to commission support.

Exodus 4:14-15:
“What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well… You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth… I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.”

With that, Moses surrendered. Not because he felt confident, but because he trusted the One who called him.

The Shepherd Turned Deliverer

Moses left the mountain not the same man who approached it. He was now the voice of God’s plan and the vessel of God’s power. Reunited with Aaron, the brothers stood before the elders of Israel.

Exodus 4:31:
“And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

Hope flickered again in the hearts of a broken people. But their freedom would not come easily.

Opposition and Obedience

Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh. They boldly declared the message God had given.

Exodus 5:1:
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival to Me in the wilderness.’”

But Pharaoh laughed at their demand and increased the burdens on the Israelites. The people turned against Moses.

Exodus 5:22-23:
“Why, Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people?… You have not rescued Your people at all.”

But God was not finished. The pressure was the prelude to His power.

Exodus 6:1:
“Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh… Because of My mighty hand he will let them go.”

God’s Might Revealed in the Plagues

Moses became the instrument of God’s judgment. Water turned to blood. Frogs, gnats, and flies filled the land. Livestock perished. Boils broke out. Hail fell. Locusts consumed. Darkness covered. And finally, the firstborn died.

Through every plague, Moses returned again and again, unflinching. He was no longer the hesitant shepherd. He was God’s voice.

Deliverance Through the Deep

At last, Pharaoh relented. The Israelites left Egypt, carrying with them silver and gold, provisions and livestock, but most importantly—freedom.

But Pharaoh pursued, and at the shores of the Red Sea, panic returned.

Exodus 14:13-14:
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Then, at God’s command, Moses raised his staff. The sea parted. Israel crossed on dry ground. When Egypt followed, the waters returned, drowning the army of Pharaoh.

Freedom was no longer a promise—it was their reality.

A Life Forever Changed

Moses would go on to receive the Ten Commandments, lead through the wilderness, and witness God’s glory in ways no man ever had before. His life became a journey of obedience, brokenness, and intimacy with God.

He had once asked, “Who am I?” and learned that the better question was always, “Who is with me?”

The wilderness was not his end—it was his beginning.

Moses’ story reminds us that no past is too broken, no weakness too great, no doubt too loud for God to overcome. When God calls, He equips. When He sends, He goes with us. And when He promises, He delivers.

Let this be the cry of your heart: “Here I am.”