Exodus 3:2

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed.

And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} appeared {H7200} unto him in a flame {H3827} of fire {H784} out of the midst {H8432} of a bush {H5572}: and he looked {H7200}, and, behold, the bush {H5572} burned {H1197} with fire {H784}, and the bush {H5572} was not consumed {H398}.

The angel of ADONAI appeared to him in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush. He looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up.

There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Commentary

Exodus 3:2 marks a profound turning point in the biblical narrative, detailing God's miraculous appearance to Moses. This pivotal moment occurs while Moses is shepherding his father-in-law Jethro's flock in the wilderness, leading to his divine commission to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Context

At this stage, Moses has been living as a shepherd for forty years in Midian, having fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12). He is far from the royal courts of Pharaoh. The scene unfolds at Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, a significant location where God would later give the Ten Commandments. The burning bush is not just a spectacle but a direct, personal encounter that radically redirects Moses' life and the history of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Theophany and Presence: The "flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" is a powerful manifestation of God's presence, known as a theophany. Fire in the Bible often symbolizes God's holiness, power, and purifying nature. The unique aspect here is that the bush "was not consumed," signifying a supernatural event that defied natural laws and pointed to God's sustaining power.
  • God's Initiative and Call: This verse highlights God's sovereignty and His active role in initiating contact with humanity. God seeks out Moses, demonstrating that His call to service originates from Him, not from human seeking or merit.
  • Holiness and Reverence: The miraculous nature of the unconsumed bush immediately conveys the sacredness of the encounter. This leads directly to God's command for Moses to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5), emphasizing the reverence due to God's presence.
  • Miraculous Power: The sight of the bush burning without being consumed is a clear miracle, serving as a powerful sign of God's omnipotence and His ability to act beyond human comprehension.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: Mal'akh Yahweh) is highly significant. In many Old Testament passages, this figure is understood not merely as a created angelic being but as a direct, visible manifestation of God Himself, often interpreted as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. The subsequent dialogue from the bush (Exodus 3:6) confirms this, as the speaker identifies Himself with the personal name of God, declaring, "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14).

Reflection and Application

Exodus 3:2 teaches us that God can reveal Himself in unexpected and humble places, even in the mundane circumstances of our daily lives. It encourages us to be attentive to God's presence and His call, recognizing that His power is not always destructive, but often sustaining and transformative. The unconsumed bush beautifully symbolizes God's enduring nature and His ability to empower His servants without diminishing them. Just as God later led Israel through the wilderness with a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21), He continues to be a guiding and preserving presence for those He calls to His purposes.

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Cross-References

  • Acts 7:30 (15 votes)

    ¶ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

  • Acts 7:35 (15 votes)

    This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send [to be] a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

  • Isaiah 43:2 (12 votes)

    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.

  • Mark 12:26 (10 votes)

    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?

  • Deuteronomy 33:16 (10 votes)

    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.

  • Luke 20:37 (9 votes)

    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.

  • Psalms 66:12 (8 votes)

    Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy [place].