November 8, 2015
Exodus chptr 3
3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led
his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
It’s been 40 years since Moses came to Midian. His occupation is that of a shepherd; quite a step
down from Prince of Egypt. Lesson for us there ya’ think ? Sometimes a step down is the step God
wants us to take. Shepherd-interesting isn’t it since that’s the word used many yrs. later to describe
Christ. By "flock", we mean either sheep or goats, but not cattle. Last wk. we were introduced to Jethro,
his father-in-law. I told you that word could mean brother-in-law too, but this week my reading told me
that this word translated "father-in-law" is used in the Bible for almost any relation by marriage.
Zipporah uses it to refer to Moses (her own husband) in Exodus 4. In Gen 19, it is used to refer to Lot's
"sons-in-law;" in other places for "brothers-in-law." Maybe Jethro is not the same person after all, as
Reuel in chptr 2. He may have been either Reuel's son or his nephew. Whoever, he was now the head of
the tribe, and its priest. KJV says backside/far side of the desert, = the W. side. That’s across the strip
of sandy plain which separates the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba from the mountains.
“Mountain of God” - Sometimes referred to as Horeb, at other times Mt. Sinai. One explanation
–the mountain has 2 peaks; one called Horeb, the other Sinai. Horeb was probably the ancient name of
the mountain, which was afterwards called “the mountain of God”, because God appeared upon it to
Moses. At some time it became known as Mt. Sinai = a bush. Why a bush ? Well that’s our story this
morning isn’t it ?
Trivia. Anyone seen the animated movie Prince of Egypt ? Fri night on Jeopardy, one of the
categories was the First 10 books of the Bible. You could’ve answered a couple of those questions just
from our study in Gen and now Exodus.
2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He
looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn
aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
The “angel of the Lord” - Not a created angel; for he is later called Jehovah in vs. 4. But he is
certainly an angel, if we remember the word from our study in Hebrews. What does the word angel
mean __?__ A messenger, who God says later in Exodus 23:21 carries the name of God. We met this
messenger several times in our study of Genesis and we learned He is called the “Pre-incarnate Christ”
by most scholars. The Christ of the OT, appearing to men as a messenger of God who has all the
attributes of God.
Moses saw the thorn bush burning but the fire didn’t stop, like it might have when a dry desert
bush was burned totally up. The fire remained strong and it lasted. He turned to see what that was all
about and a voice came to him, seemingly from w/in the bush itself. Talk about the X-Files !! This is
really supernatural stuff.
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses,
Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your
feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of
your 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 at God.
Moses the scribe, later writes that he soon came to realize that it was Jehovah who spoke to him
out of the bush. The burning bush has as many symbolic and spiritual meanings as there are Biblical
scholars and writers. One example –the burning bush is an example of the Israelites' condition in
Egypt—oppressed by slavery & persecution, and yet they continued - numerous and thriving, because
"God was in the midst of them." I also read that it was a symbol of the present state of the Christian
Church in the world.
1
We know that fire is also an emblem, in Scripture, of Divine holiness and justice. It is also used
in Scripture to represent afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people. And it is
also used to represent baptism of the Holy Ghost. And just to get ahead to our Christmas lesson. If the
Magi of Matthew were Zoroastrian priests, as I suggest, their religion worshipped one God also, and He
is represented by fire.
It is likely that this is the event that caused all the eastern religions to perform acts of worship
barefooted. All the Muslims, Brahmins, and Parsees still do. The Jews were also said to perform their
sacred rites barefooted during the 1st & 2nd century AD.
This burning bush also speaks. What did the bush say __?__ (Moses, Moses) Yeah, the Lord
knows his people and can call them by name, can’t He ? He knows the number of hairs on my head too.
I think God calls us by our name twice sometimes because we’re so hard of hearing. (there’s a minisermon for you) When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, God called out, “Abraham! Abraham!”.
When Israel was in old age and moving to Egypt, at the invitation of Joseph, God called Israel by his
birth name twice, “Jacob, Jacob”. He called Samuel’s name twice too. Each time the Lord had
something momentous to tell these OT heroes. The occasions when Jesus used names twice is another
interesting study, we just don’t have time for. But I recommend it to you highly.
After calling out Moses, the bush identifies itself. Who does he say that He is __?__ I am the
God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is the father
of the OT patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. These are the men w/ whom God made and re-confirmed
His covenant. He (the voice coming from the bush) isn’t one of those many Egyptian gods or goddesses.
He is the God of your patriarchs and the author of that great & wonderful covenant. Christ makes use of
this text to prove the resurrection of the dead to the Sadducees. Luke 20:38 Now he is not God of the
dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”
What about this “I am” business ? You know I was a AF pilot. Kathy was a Mat-Su school
teacher. God says “He is”. He is the father of A, I & J. How can he be the “father of” ole so-and so,
when ole’ so-and so is dead ? Abraham isn’t dead. God is still his father. Lots and lots of sermons
preached on these 2 words, “I am”. Lets save any further discussion on “I am” for vs. 13. One final note.
As the bush spoke, what was Moses feeling ? His emotions ? His actions ? (he was scared. Scared to
look, scared to be there and probably scared of what was gona’ happen next. Totally normal “human”
reactions. Moses was not perfect)
7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have
heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to
deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and
broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
Amorites, the Parasites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of
Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
With all the trumpet fanfare last week, you may not remember it but we talked about these
attributes of God at the end of chptr 2. Look back at those closing words of chptr 2. What does Ex 2:24
it say about God ? 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
God heard, God remembered, God saw and God knew. Here God tells Moses what we already
knew. He hears our cries. Does He hear just the big ones or all of `em ?
Nov 3 morning’s devotion from Charles Spurgeon was about cries and prayers. He talked about
the times when we are so broken hearted and sad that we can not even put words to our prayers. Listen
to just a brief excerpt from his devotion.
The prayerful Christian, whose fears prevent any words, will be well understood in heaven. The
Christian may only be able to look up w/ a misty eye, but prayer is the falling of a single tear.
Tears are the diamonds of heaven, & sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah’s court, and are
numbered w/ the beautiful strains that reach majesty on high”
2
In vs. 8 God said He was going to deliver the Jews from Egypt to __?__ There’s no “country”
named as we know it, but the land of the “ites”. It is their country and God is giving it to the Jews. We
all know that a land flowing with milk and honey is a fanciful description, not actual. Here’s a better
description of Canaan- from Deut 8. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a
land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of
wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;… IOW, a
far cry from Goshen. Mini-sermon time. It may be a long, hard trip but God desires to bring us to a
better place, a much better place.
10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of
Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children
of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that
I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this
mountain.”
Moses hears and realizes what God says & means to do. Hurrah ! Whoopee, great news. But
wait, what’d He say right after that ? “He will send me. No way, not me. I’m thru’ w/ those Egyptians
forever - - - aren’t I” ? Dr. Adam Clarke says that Moses was so convinced that this was beyond his
power, and any means that he possessed, that he was astonished that even God Himself would appoint
him to this job ! That’s how bad the bondage of the children of Israel was, and how great was the power
of the people by whom they were enslaved. If their deliverance didn’t come through supernatural means,
their escape would have been utterly impossible.
Thomas Coke - The weak things in God's hands are mighty. A shepherd brings Israel from
Egypt: afterwards, a few despised fishermen lay the foundations of the Christian church, against which
all the powers of earth never shall prevail.
What about vs. 12 ? What is the “sign” God gives Moses? Some scholars like Clarke, say the
sign was the burning bush. It was a sign to Moses that God would be with him. Some like Barnes &
Calvin say the sign is they will worship God on that mntn. For it to mean the mntn, you have to read
the “sign” like it is an answer to Moses question of “who am I to go to Pharaoh”. Others say the sign
was for Moses, to remind him who sent him. Some like Poole & Trapp say it was a double sign. One
sign to Moses and another to the Israelites.
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your
fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has
sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God
of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’
This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
More has been written in the past centuries on this section than upon any other comparable
portion of Exodus.
Adam Clarke- Moses’ question shows us that the Israelites had an idolatrous notion of the
Supreme Being. They had probably been influenced and swayed by Egyptian superstitions, and had
many gods. Moses figured that, when the Jews were told about an upcoming supernatural deliverance,
they would ask which god was going to do that. If that was indeed what Moses wanted, he certainly
never received it. Moses knew the Egyptian way of naming their gods to correspond to the wants and
circumstances of their worshippers. This may explain the question which his own people would expect
him to answer.
Moses question also shows us that he was hard of hearing like I thought. Why would I say that ?
Look back in vs. 6. What do you see ? God already told him who He was, hadn’t he ? “I am the God of
your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
3
“I am that I am” . These words have been variously (mis) understood. The original words
literally mean, “I will be what I will be”. The Vulgate translates it – “I am who am”. The Septuagint –
“I am he who exists”. The Arabic paraphrases them – “The Eternal, who passes not away”. The Targum
of Jonathan translates it ,"I am he that is, and that shall be. 'This is the name Jehovah”. The Jerusalem
Targum paraphrases the words thus: "He who spake, and the world was; who spake, and all things
existed." The words; however translated, seem intended to point out the eternity and self-existence of
God.
Some say that in these words, God simply informed Moses, that what he had been to his fathers
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he would be to him and the Israelites; and that he would perform the
promises he had made to his fathers. James Coffman said the “name” of God isn’t even in vs. 14. IOW
the “name of God” is not “I am that I am”. He says the name of God is in vs. 15 when He tells Moses to
say that - The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ Mr. Coffman’s not alone in his thoughts on this either. This is what God
already said in vs. 6 like we saw.
16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed
you and what has been done to you in Egypt,
See how scholars could say that “I am that I am” is not God’s name ? Right here God says tells
the Israelites that The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,
has appeared to me. This is the 3rd time God uses this name. What is Moses supposed to tell the Jews
that God said to him ? He saw what was happening to them. God knows what they are going thru’. And
not only that but what vs. 17 says.
This is where we stopped last Sunday. If you’ll read the following vs, (they take us to the end of chptr 3) we can
get onto chptr 4 next time. I’ll review a little of “spoiling the Egyptians” just in case there are questions. You
may have observed that I “cut out” most of the discussion on God’s name. I “divined” after class that maybe I
spent too much time on God’s name. There was a lot of class participation last week and I sure appreciated it.
Thanks to all.
17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing
with milk and honey.”’
There’s that proverbial expression again. Want some fun ? Look up where the expression
“flowing w/ milk & honey” may have originally come from. I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do
w/ new mothers.
Not only does God know & see what they’re going thru’ but He is going to deliver them from it.
18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt
and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a 3
days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’
Several sources use this vs. to say that “Midian” was 3 days from Goshen. Some say Mt. Horeb
was 3 days journey from Goshen. Some say that 3 days journey was just far enough to get away from
the influence of the Egyptians. You decide.
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So
I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he
will let you go.
If Moses wasn’t listening real good, this is how that might have sounded. “Go and do this even
thought I’m telling you it won’t work”. Did you notice in vs. 18 that God said when Moses talks to the
4
Jewish Elders, that they would listen. They won’t be his problem. But Pharaoh won’t listen “until” he is
forced to listen.
Vs. 20 is a confirmation, and an explanation of the pledge God gave Moses in ver. 12. It shows
how God would be with him - he would smite Egypt with all his wonders. We’re not told what those
might be. But God does tell Moses that in the end, Pharaoh's stubborn mind would change and he would
consent to let them go.
21 (KJV) 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: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.
I read this in KJV for one reason. The last few words . What does that last sentence in vs. 22 say
in NIV ? ..you shall plunder the Egyptians…An unfortunate translation. Throughout the ages this
event . the subject of these verses, have been called the “Spoiling of the Egyptians”. W/out that KJV
word that expression makes no sense. In Strong’s the word translated “spoil” means to take away, snatch
away, to rescue, recover, to deliver (from enemies). Here’s the point.
Plunder makes it sound like an act of a criminal or of a pirate. The word ask (correctly translated
in NIV, I might add) early in vs. 22 makes plunder, impossible. You don’t ask to plunder. And you don’t
borrow what you snatch away. See how translations often confound us ? If you’re studying a passage,
my advise-consult many translations. All excel in certain areas, all have their faults.
What God really commanded was this: - The Israelite women were told on the eve of their
departure from Egypt to ask presents from their rich Egyptian neighbours, as a contribution to the
expenses of the long journey that lay ahead of them. (We now know that Egyptians had moved into
Goshen and lived among them, as neighbors). God promised that He would so favorably open the hearts
of these neighbors that articles of silver & gold, and clothing would be freely given to them. So much
that they could clothe their children too. Instead of lv’ing Egypt like a nation of slaves, in rags, they
would go leave clothed & laden with the good things of the country. Many, many sources pointed out
that this was only reasonable as replacement for the wages they never received for all the work they did
for Egypt.
One take away from this morning’s lesson. (all the mini-sermons are good take –aways)
Remember I reviewed Exodus 2:24. God remembers. What does He remember ? His covenant. He
remembers us and our names. God remembered Noah, Abraham, Rachel & Anna & Kathy… “God
remembers” ? That’s important enough to take away isn’t it. God always hears, always sees, always
knows and He remembers us. Always. But what won’t He doesn’t remember __?__
Heb 8:8 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their
fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the
Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his
neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the
least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember
their sins no more.”
Prophesy. One day God will establish a new covenant w/ Israel. They broke the old one. After
that time, He will forgive their sins once & for all and He won’t remember their sins. Why ? Because
5
sacrifice for sin is no longer required. Christ made it once for all, even for the nation Israel-past &
present.
Next week –chptr 4.
6