Exodus 3
From Theologica
The Burning Bush (3:1 - 3:6)
Observations - - 3:1 Moses is pasturing flocks. He is in Midian. -His Father-in-law is also named Jethro. - The west side of the wilderness in Midian is where Horeb (aka The Mountain of God) is. ? Why is Sinai also called the "mountain of God"? ? Jethro comes out to meet moses at the mountain of God in 18:5, wouldn't that also be in Midia? ? God tells Moses that the people are to worship "here" in 3:12. - 3:2 The angel of the lord appeared to him in the form of a blazing bush. - Who is "the angel of the Lord"? ? God declares Himself in v6, Does this not mean that 'the angel of the lord' is God? Or maybe Jesus? - Why a burning bush? ? Could it be the manifestation of God's glory that is the fire? ? What symbolism lies behind the fire and the bush? - 3:3 Moses turns aside to "see this marvelous sight". No fear, just a strong curiosity. - 3:4 God calls Moses from the midst of the Bush; Moses answers. - 3:5 Moses is commanded to remove his sandals because the place is holy ground. ? Why are sandals bad? ? Is it because they've stepped in Sheep poo? ? Is it because they create a sort of separation between Moses and the Holy ground? - 3:6 God declares himself to Moses. - God declares Himself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the present tense - Moses hides his face because "he was afraid to look at God."
Interpretation -
Application - - God sought out Moses. Moses was probably resigned to die as a shepherd; he was not seeking anything. - Horeb/Sinai is in Midia. The west bank of Arabia. God hears (3:7 - 3:10)
Observations - - 3:7 God tells Moses He has given heed to his people because of their suffering - 3:8 God states His intentions toward Israel in their present situation 1. To deliver them from the power of the Egyptians 2. To bring them into a promised land 3. Presumably to remove those occupying the promised land (Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite and Jebusite) - 3:9 God tells moses that Israel's cry has come to Him and that He has seen their oppression - echo of 3:7 - both 3:7 and 3:9 are a sort of response to 2:23-25 - 3:10 The final point to the plan: Moses will be the instrument God uses to redeem Israel - This is God's overall strategy, but not His reasonings ? Three times in the last page it is stated that Israel cried out and God took notice of them ? Did they not cry out before? ? Did they not cry out specifically to God? ? How long was Israel enslaved? Were they enslaved for the entire 430 years?
Interpretation -
Application -
- God answers the cries of His people
- God's omniscience
- God's power is not limited by man, but rather His power is shown by His use of frail man. Moses' Mission (3:11 - 4:23)
The Plan: (3:11 - 3:22)
Observations - - 3:11 "Who am I?" Moses questions God concerning his value to God - At one time Moses was confident of His role in God's plan. After forty years in the desert, however, even when face to face with God, he was empty of confidence. - Is that true or did Moses just give up, frustrated with his consequences? - Was Moses just complacent in his role as shepherd; not wanting change? - Was he thinking, "Fine, screw them. They don't want me? They don't get me!" - 3:12 God assures Moses that He will be with him and tells him to bring Israel to the Mountain of God when they are freed - By God giving assurance to Moses, it implies that Moses is actually humble about himself. he really doesn't think he is anyone. - I'm not sure how worshiping God at the mountain is a sign. ? Is God saying, when you go through everything, when you are finally back here, you will know that it truly was God who sent you? It must be this because God says, "this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you." ? Is God promising Moses that he will get to worship God in a special way? - 3:13 Moses asks God how to respond to Israel when they question him concerning God - This is Moses' second of four questions (3:11, 3:13, 4:1, and 4:10) ? Were his questions genuine or seeking to get out of his call? - Moses does say that he is going to the "sons of Israel" - 3:14-15 God tells moses His name: I AM (Yahweh). This is the name Moses is to give Israel - Yahweh is also translated "LORD". - "I AM" A statement of causeless existence - What is a memorial-name? A name to bring to rememberance. - 3:16-17 Moses is commanded to gather the elders of Israel and tell them God's plan: That He is concerned about them and that He is going to deliver them - This is God's message to Israel. - 3:18 Moses is told that the elders will listen to Him - Moses is commanded to go with them to Pharaoh to request freedom to worship God - 3:19 God knows, however, that Pharaoh will not allow the people to go. - 3:20 God's plan is to show His power to Egypt before freeing Israel - Freedom will only come after God has displayed His miracles - 3:21-22 in so doing, Israel will gain "favor" in the sight of the Egyptians and will plunder Egypt of their riches
Interpretation -
- The humility of Moses
- The First Cause of God ? What are the implications of God being causeless? - Immortality: God is not caused by anything therefore he is not subject to any force, he must exist (Boy, this could be expanded upon) ? Could multiple uncaused beings exist? I don't think so. Multiples might require space, which is a created thing ? Does this have implications on His immutability? - He must exist outside of time - This has no bearing on His goodness, justice, mercy, or grace ? Could a causeless being be limited in power? - God must exist in some form not reliant upon anything else, therefore He cannot be physical or rather he must be of a non-created substance. - Should causelessness by its very nature render one omnipotent in that nothing can exist outside of oneself - It is possible that an uncaused being would of necessity be Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, spirit, simple, singular (unique), timeless/immortal
- The sovereignty of God
Application - - I've thought about throwing in the towel; about just giving up on the idea of teaching or preaching. I've thought about just allowing myself to be relegated to the background, to my own studies and my own interests. - If I wasn't so opinionated, if there wasnt' something in me screaming to move people onto God's plan, I think I could easily find myself drawing back from the rest of the Christian community. - Moses had to wait - whether he realized it or not - until God was ready to use him or at least until the situation was right for God to use him. - God made Moses a leader, Moses did not seek it out. -
