The Burning Bush
God appears to Moses in a bush that burns but is not consumed, calling him to deliver Israel from Egypt.
Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 4:1-17
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The Story
Forty years had passed. Moses had fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Now he was a shepherd in Midian, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro.
Moses led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up.
'I will go over and see this strange sight,' Moses thought. 'Why doesn't the bush burn up?'
When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look, God called from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!'
'Here I am,' Moses replied.
'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt,' the Lord continued. 'I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers. So I have come down to rescue them and bring them into a good and spacious land, flowing with milk and honey. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt.'
Moses began making excuses. 'Who am I to go to Pharaoh?' God answered, 'I will be with you.'
'What if they ask Your name?' God replied, 'I AM WHO I AM. Tell them I AM has sent you.'
'What if they don't believe me?' God gave Moses signs—his staff became a snake, his hand became leprous and was healed.
'I am slow of speech!' Moses protested. God's anger burned. 'Your brother Aaron can speak for you. Now go!'
The shepherd who had fled Egypt as a fugitive would return as God's chosen deliverer.
The Bush on Fire
Kids Version
Moses was an old man now—eighty years old! He was a shepherd, taking care of sheep in the desert.
One day, Moses saw something strange. A bush was on fire, but it wasn't burning up! The flames kept going and going, but the bush stayed the same.
'That's weird!' Moses thought. 'I have to look closer!'
When Moses got close, a voice came from the bush. 'Moses! Moses!'
Moses was surprised. 'Here I am!'
'Don't come any closer!' God said. 'Take off your sandals. You're standing on holy ground! I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'
Moses covered his face. He was scared to look at God!
God said, 'I see how badly My people are treated in Egypt. I hear them crying. I'm going to rescue them! And Moses—I'm sending YOU to do it. Go tell Pharaoh to let My people go!'
Moses was scared. 'Me? Who am I to talk to Pharaoh?'
'I will be with you,' God promised.
'But what if they ask who sent me?'
God said, 'Tell them I AM sent you. That is My name.'
'But what if they don't believe me?'
God gave Moses special signs. His walking stick turned into a snake! His hand turned white, then back to normal!
'But I can't talk very well!' Moses said.
God said, 'Your brother Aaron will help you speak. Now GO!'
Moses had lots of excuses, but God had an answer for each one. When God calls us to do something, He always helps us do it!
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Scripture — Exodus 3:1-22 (KJV)
1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy 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 upon God.
7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
19And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. no: or, but by strong hand
20And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
21And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
22But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. the Egyptians: or, Egypt
Memory Verse
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.”
— Exodus 3:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Burning Bush” in the Bible?
God appears to Moses in a bush that burns but is not consumed, calling him to deliver Israel from Egypt. This story is found in Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 4:1-17.
Where is “The Burning Bush” found in the Bible?
“The Burning Bush” is found in Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 4:1-17, in the book of Exodus.
What can children learn from “The Burning Bush”?
This story teaches children about God's call, Holy ground, God's name revealed, Overcoming excuses. Moses saw a bush on fire that didn't burn up! God spoke from the bush: 'I am sending you to free My people from Egypt.' Moses was scared, but God promised to help him.