Jan. 24, 2021
When God revealed Himself to Moses out of a burning bush, He was communicating far more than the words He spoke. Here He appears to Moses as a flame of fire, a symbol of God’s presence that will show up throughout the events of Exodus.
Because of God’s holiness, Moses was commanded to remove his sandals and not come any closer. God was demonstrating the gap between Himself and humanity, and Moses began his role as a mediator between a holy God and His people.
When God called Himself “I AM,” he was declaring Himself to be self-sufficient, unchangeable, and always present. When the English translation uses the name “LORD” in all capital letters or in bold, it is continuing an ancient tradition of biblical scholars of treating the divine name “YHWH” with reverence.
Jesus’ disciples were likely shocked when He took them to Caesarea Philippi, an immoral city known for its worship of pagan gods. Against a backdrop resembling “the gates of hell,” Peter gets at the central message of the Gospel of Matthew.
Peter confesses that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) The Christ (or “Messiah” or “Anointed One”) was an Old Testament promise of a divine son reigning as an anointed king (Psalm 2). The heart of Matthew’s message is that Jesus is the Messiah and his kingdom reign begins now.
Make it Personal
- Like Moses, what excuses have you made for why God can’t use you? What can you learn about God from his responses to Moses’ excuses?
- God called Himself “I AM.” Remind yourself that the same God that spoke to Moses through the burning bush is speaking to you today.
- Declare, out loud, that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God.
Learn More
Want to learn more about God’s response to the call of His people in Exodus? Check out this message from the Bible Project on Exodus 3.