OLD TESTAMENT 15
THE BURNING BUSH
SIGN OF FIRE
When it comes time to liberate the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage,
the Lord recruits Moses with fireT
he first time the Lord contacts Moses, the
adopted son of Egyptianroyalty is living a
simple existence. He is married, the father
of two sons, and working as a shepherd in
a land far from home. He hardly seems the
person to be God’s chosen prophet. But from his humble
position, Moses encounters something miraculous that
changes not only his life but the Judeo-Christian story.
Moses’ entire life has been leading to this moment. At the
time of his birth, the Egyptians had been hostile toward
the Hebrews for many years. Theruling pharaoh, suspi-
cious of the Hebrews’success and swelling population, had
ordered them into bondage and their newborn boys killed.
Moses’ Hebrew mother, wanting to save her infant
son, placed him in a basket of reeds in the Nile, hoping he
would be rescued by an Egyptian. Moses in fact was found
and adopted by a young princess, and grew up free and
privileged. One day, however, he flew into
a rage and killed an Egyptian who was
beating a Hebrew slave. Fearing that Pha-
raoh would put him to death, Moses fled
to a land called Midian.
Now years have passed, and Pharaoh
has died. One day, Moses is tending hisfather-in-law’s sheep near the mountain of Horeb in
Midian when he comes upon a bush engulfed in flames.
To his amazement, though the fire rages, the plant is not
consumed. Stopping to marvel at the phenomenon, Moses
hears a voice coming from the flames: “I am the God of
your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob.”
God tells the awestruck Moses that he intends to res-
cue the Hebrews from Egypt and bring them to the land
of Canaan, as he promised the Patriarchs of the Torah,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The ancient biblical land of
Canaan is thought to encompass what is today Lebanon,
Israel, and parts of Syria and Jordan. He has chosen Moses
to help him. “Come, therefore,” God says. “I will send you
to Pharaoh, and you shall free my people, the Israelites,
from Egypt.”
This miracle launches the Book of Exodus, a tale full of
wonders, including the 10 plagues visited
on the Egyptians and the parting of the
Red Sea. Each year during the celebration
of Passover, Jews around the world retell
the events leading to the Exodus to re-
mind the faithful that their freedom was
hard-won and must remain precious. ▪VISIONS ABLAZE
Moses could not ignore
the mission God had for
him. Fire alight before him,
he became the prophet.
Illustration by C.E. Brock
(c. 1930s).