THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #24

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3705

THE BURNING BUSH INCIDENT #1

The story of Moses and the Burning Bush appears in the book of Exodus 3 and 4.

It is Moses' first encounter with God in what theologians call a theophany ( a visible manifestation to humankind of God )

God introduced Himself to Moses as Holy Fire.

While tending his father-in-law Jethro's sheep in the land of Midian, Moses saw a baffling sight on Mount Horeb.

A bush was on fire, but it did not burn up. Moses went over to the burning bush to investigate, and the voice of God called to him.

God explained that he had seen how miserable his chosen people, the Hebrews, were in Egypt, where they were being held as slaves.

God had come down from heaven to rescue them. He picked Moses to carry out that task.

Moses was terrified. He told God he was not capable of such a huge undertaking.

God assured Moses he would be with him. At that point, Moses asked God His Name, so he could tell the Israelites who had sent him. God replied,

"I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Then God revealed that He would perform miracles to force the king of Egypt to let the enslaved Israelites go.

To show His power, the Lord turned Moses' staff into a snake, and back into a staff, and made Moses' hand white with leprosy, then healed it.

God instructed Moses to use those signs to prove to the Hebrews that God truly was with Moses.

What is the spiritual significance of this incident?

When Moses first heard from God, it was through a Burning Bush. The fire here didn't burn the literal bush. Instead, it was Holy Fire.

Moses was told to remove his sandals because it had made the ground there sacred and holy.

The symbols of "burning and fire" and often used in scripture when mentioning is made of God or His Holiness.

1.The prophet Isaiah's lips were touched by holy burning coal.

It didn't sear him but instead purified him of his sins.

2. In the book of Malachi many times fire is said to be a cleansing element that people will pass through.

3. In the Old Testament all metal instruments had to “pass through the fire” to be cleansed.

Paul referred back to this in 2 Tim 2:20-21 when he spoke of purging and purifying oneself in order to be a utensil for honor.

4. The bondage of Israel in Egypt for 400 years of slavery was said to have been a “furnace of fire”.

The suffering there was for their benefit.

Isaiah 48:10 "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

5. Thus the suffering we in the Body of Christ are experiencing is our own trial through the fire right now.

It's like a red-hot metal on an anvil. It is hammered into shape while still burning.

This process is brutal and painful but makes for a strong and pure instrument.

Later Moses will learn that God is a consuming fire ( Hebrews 12:39 )

- but He will spare those who turn to Him for salvation in Christ from the fire of hell.

WALK IN THE LIGHT