The Bush That Didn’t Burn Up

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” — Exodus 3:14

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, but he knew he was an Israelite. One day, when he was grown up, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his people, and Moses killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh heard about it, he wanted to kill Moses. So Moses ran away, far into the desert, to a land called Midian.

There Moses married a woman named Zipporah, and he became a shepherd. For forty years he looked after his father-in-law’s sheep in the wilderness. He must have thought he would never see Egypt again.

But God had not forgotten the Israelites. They groaned under their heavy work, and they cried out for help. And God heard them. God remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

One day Moses led the sheep to the far side of the desert, to Horeb, the mountain of God. And there he saw something very strange. A bush was on fire, but it didn’t burn up! The flames kept on burning, but the leaves and branches stayed just as they were.

“I must go over and see this,” said Moses.

When God saw him coming, He called to him from the middle of the bush. “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am,” said Moses.

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

Moses took off his sandals and hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

“I have seen how my people are suffering in Egypt,” said God. “I have heard them crying out, and I know how much they are hurting. I have come down to rescue them, and to bring them to a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt.”

But Moses said, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh?”

“I will be with you,” said God.

“But what if the people ask me what Your name is?” said Moses. “What shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God’s name means that He has always been, and always will be. Nobody made Him, and nobody can stop Him.

Moses still had excuses. “What if they don’t believe me?” So God gave him signs. When Moses threw his shepherd’s staff on the ground, it turned into a snake! When he picked it up by the tail, it turned back into a staff.

“But I’m not good at speaking,” said Moses.

“Who made people’s mouths?” said God. “Isn’t it I, the Lord? Now go. I will help you speak.”

But Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”

God was angry with Moses. But He was still patient with him. He said that Moses’ brother Aaron would go with him and help him speak.

So Moses picked up his staff, and set off back to Egypt.

Looking ahead to Jesus: Many years later, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). Jesus was using God’s own name from the burning bush. He was saying that He is God.

Read it in your Bible: Exodus 3–4

Dear God, thank you that you see people who are suffering and hear them when they cry. When I feel too small for what you want me to do, help me remember that you are with me. Amen.