Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian:
(A descendant of Abraham, by Keturah. Moses was called in this land-Arabia; Mahomet also arose there.)
and he led the flock to the backside of the desert,
(Would be on the West side, very fertile. First mention of Dessert of Sinai is in connection with feeding a flock!)
and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
(Never used in New Testament. There "the wisdom of Egypt" had to be unlearned and God was made known, Isa.50:4.)
2-22. Interposition of Yahaveh.
2. Vision of the Burning Bush.
3. Moses' curiosity.
4-10. Divine revelation and commission.
11. Moses' inquiry "Who am I?"
12. Divine assurance.
13. Moses' inquiry "Who are You?"
14-22. Divine commission.
1491 B.C.
2 And the Angel of the LORD
(= then Yahaveh Himself. Then "God" [v.4]. Cp. Gen. 18:1,13,17,20,22,23; 19:1,24; and cp. Gen. 32:24,30 with Hos.12:3,4.)
appeared (40 years after) 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.
(Same lesson as "furnace" of Gen. 15:17. God can bring fire and heat that will affect some people, but not to you and those under the protection of God. This bush was in flame, yet the bush was not consumed by the fire; just as the three children of God in the Babylonian captivity that were thrown in the furnace heated seven times over, and they also were not burned or consumed by that fire. Moses was very smart and he knew that if that bush was on fire, it would consume itself quickly. However, as he looked on this bush, it was not being consumed. Moses' curiosity got the best of him, and he had to take a closer look at this burning bush.)
3 And Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
(Moses wanted to see why this bush had not burnt when it had such a great fire all around it. God was using this burning bush to get Moses attention to let him know that He had a mission for Moses. God's fire was the glory of God that glory would not hurt anyone, especially His own kind. We are His kind and His children and made in His image, no matter what your race.)
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called (only here in Exodus) unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses" (cp. Gen. 22:11). And he said, "Here am I."
(God set the test to see if Moses would follow, and when Moses came to inspect the bush that had burned, but not consumed; God spoke to Moses from that bush. He called Moses, and Moses answered; "Here am I." Moses was ready when God called for him to do His mission.)
5 And He said, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
(Holy = separated, or set apart for God. Always the rendering of Heb. kadesh-first occ. here-except Ps. 42:4, where it is hagag = holy day; and Deut. 38:8, Ps. 16:2; 86:2; 89:19; 145:17 where hasîd = favor or grace. Kadesh must have one identical meaning - as above - in all passages; and does not imply moral quality except when used of God Himself. It is rendered "consecrated", "dedicated", "hallowed", "holiness", "saint", an "sanctuary". Our Heavenly Father demands your love and respect when you come before Him. God caused the bush to appear to be on fire to get Moses attention, and Moses heard the calling of God, and responded. This was a spiritual thing that Moses was entering into, yet he is in his flesh body. We are in our flesh bodies with all the limits that the flesh has, and God understands that. The Angel of the Lord drew Moses to the bush, and when Moses took the time to turn to the Father, then God spoke to Moses personally. God wanted Moses to know the natural from the things that are unnatural. So now that Moses was standing before this bush, in the presence of Almighty God, He let Moses know that this was holy ground he was standing on. Moses will show respect there, by the removal of your shoes.)
6 Moreover he said, I am the God
(God, The Creator. Note the 5-fold repetition. Christ founds the doctrine of Resurrection on this verse. See Matt. 22:31,32)
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.
(Cp. Acts 7:32. God gave to Moses the seed line that His Abrahamic eternal covenant would come down through. God is not the God of the dead, and if God is the God of Abraham, that means that Abraham was with God and his soul was alive. So was Abraham's son Isaac, and grandson Jacob with God. We are told in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Though the flesh body dies and decays back to the elements it is made of, in the ground; the soul and spirit of that body goes instantly at death to be with God, that placed that soul and spirit in the body at conception.
Remember, just as there were seven generation between Adam and Enoch, and Enoch and Noah, there were seven generations between Moses and Abraham. There were also seven generations between Abraham and Heber, and Heber and Noah. We have many sets of sevens, for seven is the number in biblical numerics for completeness. We can see the perfection in the entire plan of God, for God told Abraham that his seed would go down into Egypt and be strangers in a strange land, and in four hundred years would come out far more prosperous than when they went it.
Moses hid his face from God, because at that time he thought that you can not look God in the face and live. God made it well know that those from that other dimension as the angels were, that they were not allowed to enter into our age or dimension of these flesh bodies and take part in the things of this flesh world. That was the sin of the Nathilim or fallen angels spoken of in Jude 6, as written and recorded in Genesis 6:1-10. When the fallen angels did enter into our earth age, and married and mated with the daughters of flesh man, their attempt was to pollute the Adamic bloodline that the Christ child would come through. Moses knew that those of our earthly flesh age were not to become part in any manner, or look upon those of that heavenly realm. Each of these dimensions were separate, and God intended them to stay that way. That is why each soul must be born innocent from the womb, in their flesh and blood body and given the opportunity to chose God or Satan. Each soul, including the Kenites have the right to seek God through faith and repentance in Jesus name, and have eternal life. A true scholar of God's Word knows why it was said that man cannot look on the face of God and live. For it was because God was in another dimension, that of the Spiritual, and no flesh can enter into that realm in their human body. That is the very reason that Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God Himself came into this world age, born of a woman, and living in His flesh and blood body, so that He could shed His blood and be that perfect sacrifice for one and all times. He became Emmanuel, "God with us" when He enter into this dimension of flesh man. Though God went along with Moses thoughts, here, keep in mind the reason for this line of thinking.)
7 And the LORD said,
(Yahaveh, as Covenant God. Heb.'amar, requiring the word spoken. This expression occurs 45 "sundry times" in Exodus, and 10 "divers manners", and cp. Lev. 1:1; 5:14, Num. 3:40 and see 6:10), "I have surely seen (see Gen. 26:28. All begins with God. All is of His grace. Note the 5 statements in vv.7,8; and "My People" cp. Deut. 32:8,9.)
"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;
(Each of us living today have pain and sorrows just as those children of Israel that were living down in Egypt four thousand years ago; and God sees your troubles and sorrows also, and He knows what you are going through. He knows the sorrows and thoughts in your mind as you are thinking them; and He is waiting for you to come to Him for your help. No, he won't force Himself upon you, but He is there to give His help when you pray and ask Him for it. That is what this chapter is all about, God fulfilling the promises that He gave many years prior to Abraham, and using a man of that day to carry out the plan that God had put in place. Just as Moses is put in place to do a job for God then, each of us have our own duties for Him even today.
God made an eternal covenant with Abraham, that his seed would grow to many people while down in that strange land, and they did, they were numerous, even greater than the Egyptians. But the other part of that promise from Genesis 15:13, 14 is that they would come out of that captivity after 400 years and that promise is what God's Mission for Moses was to accomplish. However this written Word is given to you and I today so that we will know of the captivity that shall come upon us in these last days, and that God's election shall also be delivered up also before the false Christ, the Pharaoh of our day; before anyone gathers back to Jesus. When God delivers up His elect, the Holy Spirit will speak through them in that tongue spoken of by Joel the prophet, whereby every person will understand completely in the dialect of his own home, and understand completely without an interpreter.
Just as the Spirit led Moses' words that were given to Pharaoh, the elect's words by the Holy Spirit will also free those that are held in the bondage of Satan's deception, and those with ears to hear the truth will come out of the bondage of Satan system. Satan will try to win you over to him with his supernatural powers and deeds, but those with the truth will see right through those words as the lies they are. Again, this book of Exodus is a type of the coming out of captivity in the end times.)
8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
(Connect this with "serve" in v.12; and connect both with 1 Thess.1:9,10.)
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,
(6 nations named. the number of man & Satan.)
and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
(The Perrizzites are the offspring of the second influx of fallen angels, and the Jebusites are the founders of the place we call Jerusalem. David took the place over in war, and brought the tabernacle of God to that sight, and renamed it Jerusalem, the city of peace. God knew all of the enemies of the children of Israel, even while they were in possession and maintain that land when the children of God were down in bondage. God will deliver us just as He kept His promise to our forefathers so many years ago. It is no accident that our land is so prosperous, and that the free world can feed the world. We are living in that land of milk and honey that God blesses every day. We are the people that carry the promise of that Abrahamic covenant, and God is bringing our people out of the darkness and captivity of ignorance, and into the light of the truth of His Word.
This letter that He has written to us about Moses and these children of Israel is a message to us that He is in control today, just as He was in the days of Moses and Israel down in Egypt. Every prophecy that has ever been written about this earth age of flesh age either has come to pass, or will in our generation. This is why we can place our faith in our heavenly Father, because He is a keeper of His holy Word.)
9 Now 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.
(God knows when someone oppresses you, just as He was aware of those in Egypt that put the whip to the children of Israel. Every act against you, as one of God's elect, is written down and will be accounted for. God will avenge those that mess over His people, if we do it God's way. Paul told us in Romans 12:19 to allow our Heavenly Father the place of avenging our enemies for He knows best how to deal with those that would oppress us. He was quoting from the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:35.
Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.")
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."
(Moses now knows the order that God has put on his shoulders. God is going to send Moses down into Egypt to see the new Pharaoh that has taken over after the death of the man that raised him; and then lead the people out of Egypt to this promise land. Remember it wasn't long ago that Moses ran for his life from the prior Pharaoh. Moses knew he had murdered that Egyptian, and the penalty was death for murder. Now God is sending Moses back to that place where he ran from, for the purpose of delivering His people.)
11 And 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?"
(Occupation with self is the cause of all distrust. Note these 4 instances. Cp. 4:1,10-12,12,13. Very different from the Moses of 2:11-14.
This is the same way many of God's elect are going to respond when they are delivered up before the synagogues of Satan. God expects to use you and have the Holy Spirit speak through you in that moment, and He will place the words that are to be said at the very moment that they will be used. That is why we are not to premeditate as to what we shall say in advance. God is going to tell Moses those things that he ought to do and say as those moments are lived at that time.
When the false Christ shows up here on the earth with his many fallen angels, you have read this letter to you, and you know what to expect. The Antichrist will not be a surprise to any of God's elect, nor will the supernatural things and wonders that he performs to deceive the world. This is what Moses is doing here, for he just can't see in his human power and wisdom how he can cause the Pharaoh to listen to anything that he has to say. And this is the point for each of us to understand; and that is that it will not be you that does the planning or speaks the words, but it will be the Holy Spirit that places the words that you are to say in your mouth, and allows those words to flow out of your mouth. Look closely at what Jesus warned us of in Mark 13:11
Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit."
Each time Moses lifted up his staff, and opened his mouth before Pharaoh; God told him what to say; "Then the Lord saith unto Moses, "Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, `Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews..." Moses did not go before the face of Pharaoh in his own name, for he would have been laughed out of Egypt. He went in the name, in the power and under the hand of Almighty God, just as you and I of the elect will, when called before the synagogues of Satan to be used by the Holy Spirit to deliver the message that God will give us. You simply cannot plan the words or course of events for that hour against the supernatural abilities of Satan, for you and your mind will lose. The fight is not against you, but against God, and only our Heavenly Father knows those exact words that must be said to fulfill His Divine and eternal plan. You are the clay and He is the potter that does the molding of our lives and Words for that moment.
Just as Moses said, "Who am I that I should go before Pharaoh, to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt?" Each of God's elect will feel unworthy to speak for God against Satan, as He sits on his throne and declares himself to be God. However, when the Holy Spirit is within you, and you allow God's Spirit to speak through you; then "it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit." The point is that we must be willing to speak and to be used.)
12 And 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."
(How will Moses serve God on this mountain? Mount Horab [Sinai] is where God will give Moses the ten commandments as well as the rest of the laws and ordinances. However, "Certainly I will be with thee..."; here the meaning of the name "YHVH" is anticipated; "eth ha `Elohim". This is God Himself, the prelude to the Triune God's sacred name, and it is very emphatic. It is God's eternal promise, and it is not just for Moses, but for each of God's elect that will be used of Him in the final days of this earth age. Put your faith in the fact that when God is using you, it is a certainty that He will be there, and perform those things in you that He promised from His Word. So the next few verses will reveal more of His sacred name.)
13 And 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?"
(Moses is telling God that when I goes back over there where I had to flee for my live, the people are going to wonder why I came back to Egypt. They are going to ask me by who's authority have I come? Who shall I say has sent me? Here Moses doesn't even know the name of God, so he wants to know the name of the One that sent him? So God is going to tell Moses the Sacred name.)
14 And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM:"
(Heb. 'ehyeh 'asher 'ehyeh. I will be what I will be, or become.)
and He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, "I AM
(Heb. 'ehyeh = I will be [speaking of Himself].)
hath sent me unto you.' "
(Most Christians do not know the sacred name of Almighty God, and many also are afraid to use His true name. They think that it will bring a curse upon them if it was ever misused or put in curse form. Friend, God knows your heart, and there is no worry about using His sacred name in prayer. God left Moses with no doubt as to what He should say during those moments he faced Pharaoh, and the People. "I Am" is the sacred name, and "`I AM hath sent me unto you.' "
Jesus used this sacred name over and over, I AM the Way the truth and the Light"; "I AM the good Shepherd"; "I AM the water, and he that drinks of that water shall never thirst." "I AM the Bread of..." Over and over Jesus was the I AM, and basis of the very sacred name "`ehyeh `asher `ehyeh" is that our Heavenly Father, and it works into the Hebrew into the four letters "YHVH". Many try to use the letter "W" in the sacred name, and that is just not there. It is "YHVH"; "Ya-Ha-Vay". This name is locked in the Hebrew Manuscripts of the Massorah text, and the spelling thereby. It is not up for grabs for any man to fool around with. In the book of Esther, the sacred name is written in an acrostic five times, so there can be no confusion: Four time "YHVH", and once "I AM THAT I AM". Two times forward and two times reversed, to give the scholar documentation of that sacred name. God is in charge and He will be what ever He chooses to be, and where ever He desires to be.)
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'the LORD
(= He will be, spoken of by others. Cp. Rev. 1:4, "which is" = continuance in time present, "which was" = continuance in time past, "which is to come" = continuance forever. The French, "The Eternal", is a much better rendering than Lord, which = Master and Owner. What He be is left to be filled up according to the needs of those whom He is in covenant = He Who becomes Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Strengthener, Comforter, &c.)
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,
(He changes not. Mal. 3:6. He is therefore Israel's God today, as then.)
and this is My memorial unto all generations.
16 Go, 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:
(God wanted the children of Israel to know that I see your burdens, and He know you pain, and I am going to deliver you. God knows all of our pain and problems and He can read our minds. Sure God knows, but He will not act without you asking Him to. He heard the cries of the children of Israel in their pain, and Moses is sent to Egypt to free them and lead them to the promise land.)
17 And 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.' ' '
18 And 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.'
(Notice that God didn't say for Moses to go and tell Pharaoh to turn us lose and we will be gone. No, God used a little covert activity on the Pharaoh. The first approach is to just; "go into the wilderness for three days for the sake of sacrificing to the Lord our God.")
19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
(God knows that there is no way that the king of Egypt will let the children of Israel depart from their jobs, not for one hour. It is going to take a mighty heavy hand before the Pharaoh will allow any freedom to any of the children of Israel. So the first time Moses approached the Pharaoh, it was a complete rejection.)
20 And 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.
21 And 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.
(This talking about the promise that God gave Abraham, that when the children of Israel had been in Egypt for many years, they would leave far better and more prosperous than when they went into Egypt.)
22 But 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."
(Before the children of Israel leave Egypt, the Egyptians will be glad to give them their silver and gold and all their jewels; and their raiment and cattle and much more. They will leave Egypt with their just pay for the many years they were in bondage to Egypt. Any time there is work done, there is pay for that work, for God sees to it that a person gets his fair due for work done. However before that time comes there will be a lot of testing going on down in Egypt, and before it is all over, all Egypt will be glad to get rid of the Israelites.
This is an example of how it will be for us living in these end times, when Satan, the Pharaoh of our time will set his sights on placing all the world under his bondage. It is important that we pay attention to these types, for there is nothing new under the sun. That which happened before shall happen again in our day. We will be coming out also from the ways of the Word, and coming home to the protection and care of our Heavenly Father.)