The Angel of the Lord and the Burning Bush

 

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.’” 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. 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, 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.”’ (Exodus 3:14–17 ESV).

 

Today we continue to explore “down the rabbit hole” as we look at the Angel of the Lord and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:16). Actually, our reading today covers four verses with the central verse of God’s love and care tucked in the middle of the paragraph. It is amazing the “Angel of the Lord” would speak to Moses out of a bush that was burning, but not consuming any of the bush itself; however, it is even greater to see the care and concern that God expresses to Moses for the people of Israel. He was deeply concerned about their affliction in the foreign land of Egypt. His promise of redemption is wondrous indeed. Before we go much further it may be of interest to try to identify who the “angel of the Lord” is. Some have pointed to other uses of this name in the Scripture. He finds Hagar in the wilderness and gives her a promise concerning her son, Ishmael (Genesis 16:7–12; cf. 21:17–18). He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:11–18). He delivers a message to wayward Israel (Judges 2:1–4). He commissions Gideon and performs a miracle for him (Judges 6:11–24). He brings a plague on Israel during David’s time (2 Samuel 24:15–17). He appears in a vision of the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:11–13; cf. 3:1–10). It is also of interest that this angel does not appear to anyone in the New Testament. For these reasons there are many scholars who identify him as the preincarnate Christ.

 

Certainly, that could be the case; however, we can not say with absolute certainty more than this is a very special being who is delivering the message of God to Moses. It is at this point that we find the most comfort and encouragement. There are four things that seem to pop out for me.

 

First, notice this is the first time we are introduced to the precise name of God. God tells Moses, "I am who I am," identifying Himself as "I Am." In Hebrew it is אֶהְיֶה (Ehyeh). It is most often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah, though the Jews never spoke this name aloud and substituted “THE LORD” in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. There is no doubt as to who is giving Moses the message of deliverance.

 

Second, we also see the Covenant Heritage as God connects His identity to the historical patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—establishing this name as an eternal memorial for all generations. The people of Israel, though suffering are not forgotten nor abandoned by God. And, now He is going to deliver them from their bondage. That is our promise as well. As believers in Jesus, we have this “new covenant” built on the old covenant that God has delivered us from sin and death through Jesus.

 

Third, notice the mission to the Elders (v. 16): Moses is commanded to gather Israel’s leaders and relay that God has seen their suffering in Egypt and has visited them. Isn’t this a precursor to the birth of Jesus. God in human form comes for one purpose. Jesus’ mission was to deliver the people of God. And, so He has!

 

And fourth there is the promise of deliverance (v. 17): God vows to bring the people out of oppression into a rich land occupied by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. When we see Jesus celebrate His last Passover Meal with His disciples we se the extension of that promise to all of God’s chosen. What a promise! This is the heart of the Gospel!