Today’s passage: Exodus 3
Helpful thoughts:
- Some different names for the same people or places:
- Reuel of Exodus 2:18 and Jethro of Exodus 3:1 are the same person, Moses’ father-in-law and the “priest of Midian.”
- Mount Horeb, the “mountain of God” and Mount Sinai are the same mountain.
- The Angel of the Lord is clearly understood in this passage to be God Himself. He also reveals Himself in this passage as “I AM WHO I AM,” “I AM,” and “The LORD” or “Yahweh.”
- When Moses sees the bush burning yet not being burned up, he looks closer. This is how the Lord manifests his presence in this instance.
- When the Lord addresses Moses, he is instructed to take off his sandals, because the Lord’s presence made that ground holy.
- When Moses realizes who it is he’s speaking with, he covers his eyes for fear of his life.
- God tells Moses exactly what’s going to happen.
- Moses will talk to Pharaoh and make the request, and Pharaoh won’t listen until a number of wonders are wrought by God’s mighty hand.
- The people will follow Moses out of Egypt.
- When Israel leaves Egypt, they will not leave empty-handed. They will plunder the Egyptians.
Questions to consider:
- How do you envision the burning bush? What do you think it looked like? How do you think the voice of God sounded? What would have compelled Moses to be obedient to take off his sandals and cover his face?
- What do the names of God, or these phrases referring to Him, reveal about Him? What would the children of Israel have learned about God through these names/descriptions?
- With what God told Moses was going to happen, should Moses have expected smooth sailing in the task ahead? How might this have caused Moses to think twice about what God was asking him to do? How could God’s detailed instructions and promises have calmed Moses and given him confidence even when things looked bad in the days ahead? How can the promises of God give you confidence in your life?