Exodus 3: Moses’ Life‑Changing Moment Ignited at the Burning Bush
Exodus chapter 3 has the story of Moses and the burning bush. God uses the burning bush to have a conversation with Moses about freeing the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt. This chapter has great modern significance. This all happened on Mount Horeb.
In this chapter of Exodus, Moses has married Zipporah and he was tending the flocks when he saw the burning bush. Interestingly, her father is called Jethro in chapter 3. He is called Reuel in chapter 2. Scholars believe these to be the same person. What do you think her father’s real name was?
Exodus Chapter 3 Summary
In the third chapter of Exodus, we learn about the burning bush. Moses saw the burning bush while he was tending the flocks. The Lord used the burning bush to have a conversation with Moses. God commanded Moses to remove his shoes because he was standing on holy ground.
God told Moses he was going to use him to free the Jewish people. The scene tracks closely to the movie The Ten Commandments. In fact, one can picture Charlton Heston as Moses when reading this chapter.
Moses and God also have a conversation about what Moses should call God. God tells Moses that the people should call him, “I AM.” God tells Moses he should tell the Jewish people, “I AM has sent me to you.” This mission from God is very significant for us today.
Devotionals and Expressions of Faith
Moses is very reverent when speaking to God. Jewish people of the time did not think they could see the face of God and live, so in this chapter of Exodus, Moses was surprised. Though it should be pointed out that Moses questions God about his name.
Moses was amazed that he spoke to God. So were the people he talked to after the experience. These included his wife Zipporah and her family in Midian. It is important to know that Moses himself wanted to free the Jewish People from bondage.
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Modern Relevance
This passage of Exodus has great modern relevance. God wanted to free the Jewish people from bondage to worship him. This is what we do in every Mass. In fact, because of God’s desire to be worshipped, people today need to worship him.
It might seem like this chapter in Exodus happened long ago and is of indirect relevance to us. This is simply not the case. When one thinks about how important Moses is to both the Jewish people and Western Christendom. However, Moses is important because he talked directly to God. This was the first time God revealed His name, “I AM,” to a human being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the topic of these chapters? Exodus chapter three tells the story of Moses talking with God, who appears to him as a burning bush. Moses has a conversation with him in this chapter, and Moses is surprised he conversed with God and lived.
Where do these chapters come from? This chapter is found in the book of Exodus. Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and the story of the burning bush is the third chapter of the book of Exodus.
Why does this lesson matter today? This chapter matters today because God freed the Israelites to worship him. That is what God wants us to do now, and it is what is done at every Mass.
Parting Thoughts
This chapter relates the story of Moses and the burning bush. God converses with Moses via the burning bush about freeing the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt and what the Jewish people ought to call God. Still to come is Moses’s multiple attempts to free the Jewish people from Egypt, including the ten plagues he calls down on Egypt, and his ultimate success, parting the Red Sea.
Disclaimer: This article contains a summary of Exodus as well as interpretive insights from the author. Interpretations of biblical texts can differ, and this piece represents one approach to understanding the passage.
