The God Who Came Down

Nero has been known as one of the cruelest, most wicked, and most arrogant leaders this world has ever seen. Stories of his murderous tirades, sexual exploits, and pompous hedonism abound. Some scholars consider them true, while others consider them exaggerations or retellings of myths with Nero as a substitute to ruin his name and tear down his character. Regardless, the name Nero carries a deep connotation of evil.

Pharaoh displayed a similar attitude. In just two chapters, we witness the Pharaoh's pride and negligence of his nation's history. His fear led to the harsh enslavement of the Hebrews, a nation whose forefather had previously saved Pharaoh’s ancestors during a global famine. He attempted to kill them at birth and ordered them to be drowned in a river. What hubris and wickedness were on full display!
Faced with such corruption and pomp, was there any hope for the Israelites? Would they be able to sing freedom songs about the LORD’s deliverance, or would they be stuck in Egypt forever?

The Fire In The Bush
About forty years after Moses went on with his life in Midian, his’ life was changed forever. He was out tending to his father-in-law’s sheep in the wilderness—a place he and the Israelites would soon spend a lot of time. He went out to Mount Horeb, and there the "angel of the LORD" appeared to Moses in a bush that was burning yet not consumed by the fire (v. 2). What a strange sight this was for Moses. Could you imagine a brushfire where the brush was still green and never burned?

God’s messenger called out to him by name, "Moses, Moses!" (v. 4). Moses' response was very different from Adam and Eve's, though (Gen. 3:9-10). As Isaiah would one day respond to God’s call, Moses said, "Here I am," and then proceeded to move towards to the LORD (compare with Isa. 6:8). God warned him not to continue drawing near but instead to take off his shoes, for he was standing on holy ground! When Moses realized who he was dealing with, he was afraid to look at God and hid his face (compare with Isa. 6:2).

From the bush, the LORD revealed Himself as the living God of Moses’ forefathers (Mat. 22:32). God told Moses that He had seen, heard, and known the affliction of his people because of the suffering inflicted upon them by Pharaoh. Just as Moses saw the affliction of his people and defended them some forty years prior, so God moved to bring rescue. Yet, God’s vengeance was perfectly just and wholly righteous. God then promised Moses that He would deliver Israel into a "good and broad land…flowing with milk and honey" (v. 8).

God’s Revelation For Us

Many writers, from the ancient church to today, believe this was a Christophany—an appearance of Christ prior to him coming in the flesh. If not a Christophany, we know for sure that Moses met the LORD here, and God called him to a life of ministry beyond anything he could imagine or muster up in his own strength (v.6-7). Moses felt inadequate for the call God had placed on his life: "Who am I that I should go and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (v. 11). Wouldn't we all feel that way in the presence of God? It’s very similar to Isaiah’s “Woe is me!” speech in response to encountering God’s holiness and glory in a vision (Isa. 6:5).

God’s revelation to Moses is a special revelation for us today, too. We see some profound truths about God that should draw us to worship, conviction, and wonder:

The LORD is willing to draw near to His people. God came down (v. 8) to meet with Moses. He called Moses by name (v. 4) and referred to Israel as His people (v. 7). He saw, heard, and knew their suffering. He was near to them in that suffering. Later, Jesus would come down at the right time in human flesh to lay down His life for His own people as well as people from all the nations who would come to trust in Him. After He ascended to the throne in heaven, He sent His Spirit to be in and among us so we could draw near to God through Him.

The LORD is holy. God commanded Moses to take off his shoes because in His immediate holy presence, even the ground becomes holy. When people encounter God, He often reminds them of His holiness, which is fearful for sinful people (see Jos. 5:13-15 and Isa. 6:3-5). When Gabriel prophesied about Jesus' birth, he said, "...the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God" (Luke 1:35, emphasis added). Even the demons acknowledged that He was "the Holy One of God" (Luke 4:34).

The LORD is the God of the living. The LORD described Himself as "the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (v. 6). Jesus later quotes this passage to make the point that His Father is the God of the living and not the dead. This points to the eternal life that comes with being His people (Mat. 22:32).

The LORD is a faithful, covenant-keeping God. God’s mention of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reminds us that God keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and pours out His steadfast love on those who love and obey Him (Dt. 7:9). We are later reminded that Christ ushered in a new covenant that is not of the letter of the law but of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:6). If God is faithful to keep the old covenant, which was inaugurated with the blood of animals, we can trust that He will be faithful to give us the promised eternal inheritance through the redeeming blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:15).

The LORD is powerful yet gracious. God had the power to bring His people out from under the bondage of Pharaoh, and yet when Moses questioned Him and protested his inadequacies, God was gracious with his weakness, saying, "I will be with you" (v. 12). He also assured Moses that he would have a sign—a promise to worship on the mount Horeb where he met God that day.

God Came Down
The story of Israel isn't just that God came to His people. Israel's history foreshadows the coming of Jesus who came not only to His people who rejected Him but also to the whole world. Even in Moses’ calling, we see foreshadows of God’s call for His church. As the LORD called Moses to usher in His kingdom by bringing Israel out of Egypt, so has He called His Church to snatch people from the fires of judgment and bring people out from bondage to sin by proclaiming the gospel. In Moses’ commission and in the Great Commission, the LORD makes a promise: "I will be with you."

Reflection Questions

1. How does the encounter between Moses and the LORD in the burning bush reveal God's willingness to draw near to His people and be with them in their suffering? How does this help you in your suffering?
2. How does Moses’ encounter with the holiness of God compare to our experience of God today? When have you encountered the holiness of God in your spiritual walk with Him?
3. Why is it important that God is a faithful, covenant-keeping God? In what ways have you struggled to trust God’s promises?
4. How does God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Israel give you assurance today? How could you use Exodus 3 to encourage someone struggling in their faith?
5. When have you felt inadequate to do the work God called you to? How does God’s grace and mercy toward Moses help you in times of weakness?

Prayer Points

1. Thank God for His willingness to draw near to you. Spend some time praising God for drawing near to you through the coming of Christ and the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.
2. Reflect on the holiness of God. Ask God, through His Word and Spirit, to remind you of His holiness. Spend a few moments in silence simply appreciating and feeling the gravity of His holy presence.
3. Confess your weakness and rest in Him. Reflect on areas of weakness in your walk with God. Think specifically about marriage, parenting, work, relationships, and other areas of your life. Acknowledge your weakness to God and ask Him to empower you to live out the Great Commission. 
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His presence. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that God is with us. He is the Spirit of Christ in us. Pray that He would remind you moment-by-moment, day-by-day of His presence.

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