Story Of The Burning Bush In The Bible

The Bible reveals a wonderful story of when God spoke to Moses from a burning bush. It happened one day as he led his father-in-law’s sheep into the wilderness.

He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. Exodus 3:1-2

Click on this graphic to get your free eBook

Moses was a bit dumbfounded as he gawked at the bush that didn’t burn up. Finally, he decided he needed to go and investigate.

This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” Exodus 3:3

As the Bible unravels this story, the burning bush served only as an attention-getter. When Moses got closer, out of the bush came something he never expected.

When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. Exodus 3:4-5

At this point in the story, he had no idea why this bush continued to burn and how it began to speak. Since God knew that, He revealed Himself.

I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at GodExodus 3:6

Moses’ Story Began When He was a Baby

The daughter of Pharaoh found a Hebrew baby in a basket floating on the Nile River. She kept him and called his name Moses.

It was obvious that Moses was familiar with God. Even though Pharaoh’s daughter raised him as her own, his real mother got to teach him about the Lord.

The baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. Exodus 2:7-8

About 40 years later Moses saw an Egyptian mistreating a Hebrew slave so he killed him. Pharaoh, however, found out about it and tried to kill him.

The Bible says that Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. This all led up to the story in the Bible where God spoke to him from the burning bush.

Moses knew how the Egyptian slave drivers treated the Hebrews. God was also aware of how awful the Egyptians were treating His people.

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. Exodus 3:7

Moses felt bad for the people, but he no longer needed to concern himself with them. Or so he thought. You see, God had a special assignment for him. Look at what He said.

“Now Go”

Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of EgyptExodus 3:10

Moses immediately protested against God. Interestingly, when the Lord first spoke to him, he covered his face out of fear and respect.

But when God gave him a task, he boldly resisted Him. How do you respond to the Lord when He gives you a special call? 

Story Of The Burning Bush In The Bible

So Your Story isn’t a Burning Bush Like in the Bible

Has God thrown an attention-getter your way? I realize that your story probably won’t include a burning bush like mentioned in the Bible. But God still wants your attention!

Like Moses, we enjoy entering into the presence of the Lord. We lift our voices to Him and we raise our hands toward heaven. Sometimes we lay prostrate before His Holiness.

We love to experience an emotional and spiritual high especially when gathered together with others in worship. We’re all ears when God tells us what He is about to do. 

Don’t you just love the promises of God? Sure! And why not? A few years ago we often sang a song called “All your promises are yes and amen.”

That’s what happened that day at the burning bush. God made a promise. He promised to deliver His people from their oppression and bondage from the Egyptians.

So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus 3:8

When Moses heard God’s plan, maybe he thought to himself, “Wow that is great! Those people needed a break.” But it was a different story when God told him to “Now go!”

Whenever the Lord reveals to someone what He is going to do, it often involves them. So how do you react when God says to you, something like “now go”?

The Burning Bush Story Compared to Ananias in the Bible

My mind goes to how Ananias handled it when the Lord asked him to go and minister to Saul. He wasn’t real crazy about the idea.

The leading priests had authorized Saul to arrest Christians and Ananias knew it. But he went anyway.

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 9:17

In this Bible story of the burning bush, after God called Moses, He continually led the way.

Ananias experienced the same type of result when he visited the man who initially wanted to imprison him. Ananias delivered God’s message and Saul received a healing.

When God calls you He will prepare and equip you as well. Trust Him because He will never leave you nor steer you wrong.

Lord, thank you for including in the Bible, the story of Moses and the burning bush. Help us Lord to trust you when you choose us for the fulfillment of your plans.

Check out these other “stories” I have written about.


To receive each new devotional post delivered to your inbox, subscribe below by giving us your first name and email address.

Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about bible stories.

By Crossmap Blogs

Crossmap.com is a Christian living portal website serving the U.S. and global Christian communities. It is pan-denominational, viewing all Christian denominations as equal constituents of the body of Christ, and all Crossmap staff and contributors adhere to our statement of faith.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *