Exodus 3 - Printer Friendly

What does Exodus 3 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

This passage includes one of Scripture's most famous encounters: Moses and the burning bush. This chapter can be divided into four sections, as God calls Moses to a position of leadership and vows to bring judgment on Egypt for their treatment of Israel.

Moses served as a shepherd of his father-in-law's sheep (Exodus 2:16–22). He was with the sheep on the west side of the Sinai wilderness at a place called Horeb, later associated with Mount Sinai, which would later be called the mountain of God (Exodus 24:13). There, "the angel of the Lord" appeared in the flames of a bush with fire that would not extinguish. The Lord spoke to Moses from the bush, telling him to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. God reveals Himself as the same God as his father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God knew about the suffering of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:23–25) and planned to rescue them. He would act to bring them to what later became known as the Promised Land (Exodus 3:1–8).

To accomplish this great task, God will call Moses as His messenger. Moses offers excuses to not be the one God sends, claiming, "Who am I…?" (Exodus 3:11). God reassures him, but Moses says the people will be skeptical. They will want to know who has sent him. God's response is the closest thing to a personal name used by God in Scripture: "I am Who I am" (Exodus 3:13–14). He claims to be the self-existent one, as well as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This same passage connects God's use of the "I am" terminology to the Hebrew word YHWH, which is sometimes transliterated as Yahweh or Jehovah. Most often, this is seen in English translations using small capitals: "The Lord" (Exodus 3:9–15)

The third section is of God's message to the elders of Israel, including instructions for their appeal to Pharaoh. Moses was to appear to the leaders of the Hebrews, telling them they would leave slavery and travel to a new land. They would then tell Pharaoh to give them their freedom. Yet they would be denied until God "compelled" the Egyptian ruler (Exodus 3:16–19).

The final passage assures Moses of Israel's upcoming deliverance. The Lord promises to judge Egypt and perform signs. Later chapters describe these as the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7—12). When the Hebrew people leave, they would take great wealth from their captors. God specifically mentions silver and gold jewelry and clothing. These would be given to the Israelites' own children as a sign of victory (Exodus 3:20–22).

All these predictions would come true as promised. However, Moses continues to offer doubts (Exodus 4:1, 10, 13) until the Lord convinces him to obey. Egyptian slavery would end (Exodus 12:41). Through many signs and wonders, the people would leave Egypt, would plunder the Egyptians, worship God at Mount Sinai, and eventually enter a new land as their own nation.

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.

Exodus 3:9–15 reveals God's commission of Moses as His spokesman. His great task is to lead Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. God provides reassurance in response to Moses' doubts. God also identifies Himself using terminology which will be crucial in both Jewish and Christian understanding of His nature. As a name, God uses the phrase "I am," indicating His eternal, uncreated, necessary, absolute existence. This connects to the Hebrew term YHWH, most often seen as Lord, Yahweh, or sometimes translated as Jehovah. Jesus will use this same phrasing in the New Testament.

Exodus 3:16–19 records a message Moses is to deliver when he arrives in Egypt. This is addressed to the '"elders of Israel," and includes a statement meant to be spoken to Pharaoh. God promises to free Israel from slavery. He will establish them in a fertile, free land. The first step in this liberation is to ask Egypt's king for a relatively minor concession: three days for Israel to worship their God. Pharaoh is predicted to refuse this, demonstrating his complete lack of empathy for the Hebrew people.

Exodus 3:20–22 summarizes God's plan for liberating Israel. In response to Pharaoh's hardness of heart, God will "strike" Egypt using miracles. Later chapters will record these as the ten plagues (Exodus 7—12). The power and impact of these will leave no doubt that He is the One True God. This will convince Pharaoh to release the Hebrews. It will also encourage the Egyptians to hand over much of their wealth to Israel, to speed their departure.

Chapter Summary:

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.

Chapter Context:

Prior chapters in Exodus explained how the descendants of Abraham became a populous nation, but also one enslaved in Egypt. Exodus 3 describes the moment when God calls Moses to lead Israel out of slavery. This is accomplished through the miracle of the burning bush. This begins a dialogue between God and Moses. It includes messages for both Israel and Pharaoh which will continue into chapter 4.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

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