Bible Study
Lesson 2
Scripture Reading
Exodus 3:1-12 (NRSV)
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “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.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from 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 country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
Digging Deeper Questions
Surface:
Moses is told to take off his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. What does holy ground feel like on your feet?
God has something that needs to be done, and Moses is supposed to do it. What does God want Moses to do?
Imagine your teacher tells you to go to the principal to tell him or her to let everyone out of school. How would that make you feel? (nervous, excited, scared, confused) Would you want someone to help you? Why or why not?
How do you think Moses felt standing before God?
Deeper:
How does God identify Godself? Why should it matter to Moses that God was the God of his ancestors?
God wants something done and Moses is supposed to do it. How does God know what needs to be done? (verses 7-9) Why does God want it done?
Reread verse 11. Who helps Moses?
Does Moses need God to show up or does God need Moses to show up?
Deepest:
God needs something done and sends a person to do it. Why do you think God chooses to work through people?
The Hebrew words for “flame” and “heart” are very similar. What about the conversation at the burning bush reveals God’s heart?
How does God ignite a passion in you, in us and in others?
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