What does Exodus 3:2 mean?
Born to a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:1–2), Moses was raised in an Egyptian palace (Exodus 2:10). He is now tending his father-in-law's sheep in Midian, as an exile from Egypt and his former life (Exodus 2:14–22). Without any mentioned warning, Moses sees "the angel of the Lord." He appears in a visible way as fire coming from a bush. A bush being on fire is not itself unique, but this bush burned without being consumed. In other words, the bush had flames coming from it but it wasn't "burning up." While many things could be poetically described as "flames," the specific mention that these flames did not consume the bush makes it likely that what Moses saw appeared as literal, visible flames. This "sign" attracted Moses to investigate in more detail (Exodus 3:3–4).The major debate in this verse is the identification of "the angel of the Lord." Is he an actual angel, or God in human form? The passage will go on to say that "God called to [Moses] out of the bush" (Exodus 3:4) If this is God's voice, most assume it is God's presence in the bush. However, the other option is also possible. In ancient culture, a messenger could speak on behalf of a dignitary, speaking in his voice. It is possible this was an angelic being speaking on God's behalf. While either view is possible, most interpreters lean towards this being a theophany: a physical manifestation of God in human form.
Exodus 3:1–8 describes the initial contact between Moses and God. This involves one of Scripture's most memorable images: the burning bush. Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law in Midian, after fleeing from Egypt some forty years prior. He sees a bush which is covered in fire, but not being burnt up. "The angel of the Lord'' declares God's intent to liberate Israel from their slavery in Egypt.
Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law when he sees a miraculous sight: a bush which is on fire, but not burnt up. From this fire, God speaks to Moses, appointing him as the leader of the nation of Israel, whom God intends to free from Egyptian slavery. God identifies Himself in this passage using the famous terminology ''I am.'' Despite Moses' fears and doubts, God gives him a message to take to the elders of Israel, and eventually to Pharaoh himself.
