Ex. 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Ex. 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Ex. 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
This chapter starts with a little puzzle. For no apparent reason, Moses’ father-in-law is called Jethro instead of Reuel. The Hebrew for Reuel indicates “friend of God.” I don’t know if the two names represent different things to the Jewish reader or if it is a first name and surname or what. It is interesting that the first time Moses meets this man, it is emphasized that he is meeting one who is a friend of God. Moses is way off in the wilderness away from his people, yet God has a friend prepared to accept him as part of his family until God is ready to call Moses into service.
Moses is taking care of his father-in-law’s flocks. He took them to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Eerdman’s Dictionary associates this with Mount Sinai.) Galatians 4:25 confirms that Mt. Sinai is in Arabia: “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”
Since this is being written after the fact, it would be natural for the writer to identify the location, since Sinai is where God spoke to Moses and gave the people the Ten Commandments. Both are very significant points in the history of the nation of Israel.
Verse two tells us that the “angel of the LORD” appeared to him in flames. Moses saw a bush that was on fire, but not burning up. He decided to take a closer look and try to see why it wasn’t being consumed.
Again, Stephen tells us in Acts that 40 more years had passed before this event took place. That would make Moses 80 years old.
Acts 7:30 “And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.”
Guzik: “Some think the burning bush to be a symbol of Israel, or the people of God more generally – afflicted but not destroyed, because God is in the midst of them.”
Ex. 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
Ex. 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Ex. 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
The LORD saw that he was going to look, and God called to him from within the bush—by name, twice, with emphasis enough to stop him in his tracks. (Was this referring to the Son and the Father—the angel and the voice?) Moses stopped and answered—“Here am I.” (It is interesting to me, again, how easily Moses responds in this very unique situation.) God tells Moses not to come any closer and to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. (I would assume this act is associated with humility.) Then Moses learns who is speaking to him—“the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This caused Moses to hide his face because he was afraid to look at God.
It’s interesting that he is not afraid of God, but afraid to face God. I think that is a good description of how I often feel. I can’t wait to be in the presence of God literally; but at the same time, I’m not sure I’m ready to look Him in the face. I have to keep reminding myself that He will only see me through the covering of the shed blood of Jesus. He won’t be looking at my face and thinking of all the many ways I failed Him. He will just see me as His child bought at great price with all my imperfections covered by the blood of His precious Son. Satan likes us to forget that truth.
Ex. 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Ex. 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Ex. 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
The LORD tells Moses that He is aware of and has seen the misery of His people in Egypt. He has heard the cries caused by the cruel treatment of the slave masters; He knows how they are suffering. The reason He has “come down” (to talk to Moses personally) is to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians and to bring them to a good and spacious land, “a land flowing with milk and honey”—the place where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. He repeats that their cry has been heard, and He has seen their oppression. (God is always aware of what is going on in the lives of His children.)
Ex. 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Ex. 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
In verse 10, Moses is told to go. God is sending him to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. There is no gentle pleading or asking if he would consider doing this; it is an order. Maybe Moses wasn’t real surprised at being confronted by God. He was probably well aware of his miraculous salvation as a baby. And, having godly parents, he was probably told that God had a special purpose for him in life as indicated in Acts.)
Acts 7:22–25 “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds….he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.”
At any rate, Moses didn’t want to go. He questions God whether he is the right one to do this. (You know, I question God often in my heart regarding things that are allowed to happen in this world and even at times past in my life, but I don’t think I would be willing to question His command to me in His presence. On the other hand, I realize that I am in His presence any time He is speaking to me through His Word or in prayer. His Holy Spirit indwells me. Why is it that we are so dependent on visual or tactile affirmation that something is real?)
Observation from Courson: “The most qualified men and women are often those who are the most reluctant to take the challenge, to respond to the call because they’re aware of their own unworthiness and frailty.”
Ex. 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Ex. 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Ex. 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Ex. 3:15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
God tells Moses, “I will be with thee.” (That takes care of any doubt Moses may have had—at least it should have.) Then He tells Moses that another sign verifying that it is God who is sending him will be that he would return to worship God on this very mountain after he had brought the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moses isn’t finished making excuses. His first problem is how he will answer the Israelites when he tells them that the God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask him what is his name? “What shall I say?” God answers that he is to answer, “I AM THAT I AM” (the self-existent, eternal, sovereign God). Moses is to tell them that “I AM” has sent me to you. He is also to say, “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” has sent me to you. This is the name He is to be remembered by forever, from generation to generation.
I think this long name of identification is important to the Jewish people as a constant reminder that God has chosen them and that His covenant with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob will continue to be fulfilled and will continue to verify that God is who He says He is. This covenant name is for “all generations”—not many generations, or some generations, but ALL generations. God has not abandoned the Jewish people nor has He replaced them with the church. His covenant was with the posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Another good observation from my daughter-in-law: “God is the reason there is anything at all—that there is a state of “being.” So the only name they could comprehend would be “I AM”—the reason you are—God is.”
Guzik: “Yahweh was not a new name, nor an unknown name – it appears more than 160 times in the book of Genesis. Moses’ mother’s name was Jochabed meaning Yahweh is my glory. Moses and Israel knew the name Yahweh. God did not give Moses a previously unknown name of God, but the name they had known before.”
Ex. 3:16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
Ex. 3:17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
Moses is told to assemble the elders of the Israelites and tell them, “The LORD, God of your fathers…appeared to him and said that He has watched over you and has seen how you have been treated in Egypt. God has promised to bring you out of your misery in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—“a land flowing with milk and honey.” God told them exactly where He was taking them.
Ex. 3:18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Ex. 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
Ex. 3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Ex. 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
Ex. 3:22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
God then proceeds to tell Moses what will happen. First, the elders of Israel will listen to him (and believe him). He and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and tell him that “the LORD, the God of the Hebrews” has met with them. They are to ask for permission to take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to their God. The king will not allow this unless a mighty hand compels him. God will then perform many wonders among the Egyptians that will not be pleasant; they will feel like they are being beaten. Then the king will let them go. Not only that, the people will not leave empty handed. The women of Israel are to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold and clothing, and the Egyptians will comply. The Israelites will leave with great wealth, a fitting recompense for their slave labor.
Ex. 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Ex. 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Ex. 4:3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
Ex. 4:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
Ex. 4:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
Ex. 4:6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
Ex. 4:7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
Ex. 4:8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Ex. 4:9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
God has just taken great pains to detail what will happen; but Moses says, “What if they do not believe me, and don’t believe that the LORD appeared to me?”
The LORD made us. He understands well how our minds work, so He patiently gives Moses a sign. God asks Moses what he has in his hand. Moses answers, “a rod.” The LORD tells him to throw it on the ground. Moses did, and it became a snake and he ran from it. Then the LORD tells him to reach out his hand and take it by the tail. Moses obeys, and it becomes a rod again. The LORD told Moses that this was a sign that he could use to prove that God had sent him. Then the LORD tells Moses to put his hand inside his cloak. He did; and when he pulled it out, it was white as snow like a leper’s. Then he was told to put it back in his cloak. He did; and when he took it back out, it was normal again. Now he has a second sign if they don’t believe the first. But God doesn’t stop there; He gives Moses a third sign. If the first two signs don’t work, he is to take some water from the Nile and pour it on dry ground. The water will turn into blood on the ground.
Ex. 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Ex. 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Ex. 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
Moses is a very reluctant vessel. Now he complains that he is not eloquent enough to speak to these people; he is slow of speech and tongue. (He certainly doesn’t seem to have any problems coming up with excuses in front of Almighty God.) So the LORD confronts him with the obvious. “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD?” (Moses is getting under the Father’s skin, so to speak—just like a stubborn child.) Again, God tells Moses to go; He will help him speak and tell him what to say.
Even though we don’t have the privilege of hearing God’s voice audibly, I think we sometimes recognize just as clearly when He is speaking to us. Sometimes our responses follow the same pattern as Moses. We start making excuses because we aren’t really sure about what we “heard.” God just wants us to step out in faith with the first step, and He will take care of all the details. He just wants our obedience in faith.
Ex. 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Ex. 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Ex. 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
Ex. 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Ex. 4:17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
Finally, Moses quits making excuses. He just doesn’t want to go and says so. He asks God to send someone else. The LORD was angry with Moses; but just like any good father, He expects Moses to obey. In spite of His anger, He makes one more stab at boosting Moses’ confidence. He tells Moses that Aaron, his brother (a Levite) is on his way to meet him. God knows that Aaron speaks well, and he will be glad to see Moses. God tells Moses to tell Aaron what to say, and God will help both of them speak and teach them what to do. Aaron can speak to the people as he is directed by Moses who will be directed by God. Moses is also to take his rod with him so he can perform miraculous signs with it.
Astute observation from Wiersbe: “Moses calls Him ‘Lord’ and yet was refusing to obey His orders.”
Jesus reflects on this very same truth.
Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Ex. 4:18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
Ex. 4:19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
Ex. 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
Finally, Moses is obedient. He goes back home to his father-in-law and asks him to let him go back to his own people in Egypt and see if any of them are still alive. (My how society has changed in the attitude of deference toward parents!) Jethro told him to go and wished him well.
It is interesting that even though Jethro is a priest, Moses doesn’t tell him about his encounter with the LORD (at least we aren’t told that he did). You would think that a priest, of all people, would understand. Neither are we told that he told his wife the truth.
In verse 19, we are given more information regarding what God told Moses. He told him that all the men who had wanted to kill him in Egypt were dead. Next thing you know, Moses has taken his wife and sons (notice there are more than one now) and headed back to Egypt. As instructed by God, he had the “rod of God” with him.
Ex. 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Ex. 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Ex. 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
In verse 21, it sounds like the LORD is speaking to Moses again; in fact, the next set of verses make me think that this was a new conversation. The LORD tells Moses to be sure he performs all the miracles that God has given him the power to do in the presence of Pharaoh. Then God says that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will not let the people go.
These kinds of truths are always hard to understand. It is very important that we keep in mind all the attributes of God when studying the scripture. God has the prerogative to choose any person or nation or whatever to accomplish His purpose. God is all-knowing; He knows every part of what will be our life before we are even born. God is not willing that any should perish, according to scripture.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God is just using Pharaoh’s choices to accomplish His will. There is a point when God will give you over to your own choices and your fate is sealed. When Pharaoh refuses to let the people go, Moses is to give him a message from the LORD. He is to say (my paraphrase)—Israel is my firstborn son, and you are to let my son go so he may worship me. If you refuse, I will kill your firstborn son.”
I think Israel is referenced as God’s firstborn, since it will be from the nation of Israel that the Messiah would come—God’s only begotten Son. God is saying to Pharaoh that His firstborn son is as precious to Him as Pharaoh’s is to him. To deprive Him of the relationship, communication and fellowship of His child’s worship is like losing His child, so He will let Pharaoh understand this through firsthand experience—through the death of his son.
Ex. 4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
Ex. 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
Ex. 4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
These verses are like a parenthesis in the story with many pertinent facts missing. All I can do is make conclusions of my own from the information provided.
Moses and his family stopped at an inn. It would seem that the LORD makes a pre-incarnate bodily appearance and shows intent to kill Moses. We aren’t told if they recognized the LORD, but the context indicates they did. Obviously, Moses’ firstborn son had not been circumcised. Although they may seem like a parenthesis, these verses are strategically placed right after God’s discussion with Moses regarding the importance of the firstborn son. It would seem that Zipporah heard this part of God’s conversation with Moses. Zipporah seemed to be the one to understand what God was trying to get Moses to recognize by bringing his family into obedience with the sign of God’s covenant. Moses could not rightly represent God to Pharaoh when he was in disobedience to God regarding his own family. Evidently, Moses had explained his circumcision to his wife. She obviously didn’t understand why the sign had to involve such a disgusting process; but as most any loving mother, she was willing to do whatever was necessary to protect her family.
According to Exodus 18, Moses must have sent his family back to the home of his father-in-law at this point.
I am reminded that Moses and Zipporah have been married approximately 40 years, since Moses was 40 when he left Egypt and 80 when he confronted Pharaoh. These boys were probably young men at this time. Zipporah was a Gentile—not a Jew, yet she was the one that understood why God would have to kill Moses and took action to save him. It’s interesting how often Gentile women figure into the purposes of God for His people (e.g., Tamar, Rahab, Ruth) just as the Gentile bride of Christ will be used to provoke Israel to jealousy and point her to the truth about the Messiah.
Ex. 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
Ex. 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
Ex. 4:29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
Ex. 4:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
Ex. 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Here we are told that the LORD spoke to Aaron (how doesn’t really matter) and told him to go into the desert and meet Moses. So he did. He met Moses at the mountain of God, Sinai, and kissed him. Moses could finally share his whole experience with God. He told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say. He also told him about all the miracles he had been commanded to perform.
Verse 29 finds them back in Egypt and meeting with the elders of the Israelites. Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. They also showed them the miraculous signs—and they believed. When they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and knew their misery, they bowed down and worshipped. (Thought—God knows us intimately. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it to enable us to make the right decisions.)