Hello and welcome to today’s bible study on Exodus 3 where we will read about Moses at the burning bush. According to Bible scholars, the events of Exodus 3 took place in 1446 B.C. approximately.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 3 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 3. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 2, we read about Moses’s early years and how he escaped to Midian after killing the Egyptian. Well, in today’s bible study on Exodus 3, we will read about Moses at the burning bush.
Backstory on Exodus 2
In Exodus 2, we read about Moses’s birth and how Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He also killed an Egyptian (thinking that no one saw him) in an attempt to defend a Hebrew man and hid the Egyptian man’s body. The next day when he tried to interfere and stop the fight between two Hebrew men, they questioned Moses about his authority and if he intended to kill them too as he did the Egyptian. Realizing that his deeds were known, Moses escaped from Egypt to Midian where he helped the daughters of Midian’s priest water their flocks. The priest invited Moses and he was content to stay with the priest and married one of the priest’s daughters and they had a son named Gershom. Meanwhile, the Israelites groaned under the bondage of Pharaoh and their cries came up to God.
Without any further delay, let us study together Exodus Chapter 3, shall we?
Exodus 3 Summary
Moses was taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep when he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him as a fire in a bush. The bush did not burn up, so Moses wanted to take a closer look. When the Lord saw that Moses was approaching, He called out to him. The Lord told Moses not to come near the bush and to take off his sandals because the ground was holy. He said He was the Lord of Moses’ ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses was afraid to look at God and hid his face.
The Lord told Moses that He saw that His people in Egypt were suffering under their taskmasters, and He heard their cries. He knew their pain. So, He decided to rescue them from the Egyptians and take them to the promised land flowing with milk and honey. The Lord called Moses to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But Moses asked why he should be the one to do this.
God assured Moses that He would be with him. He gave Moses a sign: after he brought the people out of Egypt, he would serve God on the mountain where they were talking now, at Mount Horeb.
Moses asked God what to tell the children of Israel when they wanted to know His name. God replied that His name was “I AM WHO I AM” and Moses was to say that “I AM” sent him and He (I AM) is the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He further said that “I AM” is His name forever and will be remembered by all generations.
God told Moses to gather the elders of Israel and tell them about His visit on Mount Horeb. He wanted to deliver them from Egypt and lead them to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.
God instructed them to ask Pharaoh to allow them to travel for three days to make sacrifices to the Lord in the wilderness. Pharaoh would not let them go, and their deliverance would come only by God’s mighty hand. God said that when they left, they would take silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians and put them on their sons and daughters.
Exodus 3 Commentary
1. Exodus 3:2-5
The angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses in the burning bush was Jesus Christ Himself. He is identified as the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, representing the visible form of the invisible God. In the New Testament, Jesus stated that those who have seen Him have seen the Father, affirming that He is the visible image of the invisible God.
Additionally, it’s important to note that Moses did not ask for a visitation from God; rather, God chose Moses for this purpose. After being a royal Egyptian prince, Moses became a shepherd tending to his father-in-law’s flocks.
2. Exodus 3:7-10
The Lord told Moses that He had seen the oppression of His people, heard their cries, and understood their sorrows. The Lord came down to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians and to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. God was not giving the Israelites a brand-new region to occupy; rather, He provided them with a land that was already occupied, which they were to take possession of with God’s help. This is how God typically works. He has even ordained that we occupy until He comes. The world is filled with people who do not know God, and we are to take our place in what has already been occupied until His return.
Also, The Lord has always helped His people. He heard their cries and came down to deliver them because He cares about His people and His covenant.
3. Exodus 3:14-22
When Moses asked God what to tell his brethren when they inquired about the name of the Lord, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” He instructed Moses about things to unfold and what they were to tell Pharaoh. He also provided instructions on how to plunder the Egyptians. While God gave them an entire blueprint for what was to come, He did not reveal all the details.
Exodus 3 Lessons
1. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever
The same God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, instructing him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian oppression, is the same God who came down to Earth to die on the cross for us and was resurrected on the third day. This same God is ever-present and willing to help us even today and His name is Jesus Christ.
2. You are called to occupy
You are called to occupy places that are already held by people who do not know the Lord. Some individuals are determined to do evil no matter what. As long as they maintain their positions, especially in positions of power, evil will persist through their actions and the policies they advocate. Therefore, the Lord wants His people to take their place and be in the marketplace—not to subjugate others, but to establish His will and kingdom on Earth, which will ultimately benefit everyone thereby leading as many as possibe to the Lord.
3. God‘s plan of redemption
Just as the Lord has a plan of redemption for the Israelites, He also has a plan of redemption for you from anything that keeps you in bondage. He will guide you out of it and redeem you, ensuring that you receive everything that was stolen. When you leave the land of bondage, you will not exit empty-handed, just like the Israelites did when they left Egypt because they plundered the Egyptians by consent.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study lesson on Exodus 3. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 3. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!