Exodus 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Don’t just acknowledge that Moses ‘tended the sheep’; reflect on the lament of Jacob when he spoke to his father-in-law: “Thou hast exacted from me, whether by day what was lost, or whether by night what was lost; I languished by day for the heat, and by night for the cold, and my sleep escaped my eyes” (Genesis 31:39, 40). Such struggles were likewise true for Moses, enduring for many more years and with greater severity, as the land of Midian was harsher than that of Mesopotamia. If Moses refrained from voicing complaints, it is because he was driven to a place of severe extremity by the ingratitude of his father-in-law. The feeling of being foreign can weigh heavily on a person, even if they have departed their homeland out of necessity. “As a bird,” observes the wise one, “which has left its nest, so is a man who has left his place” (Proverbs 27:8).

Moses!" and he replied, "Here I am." God instructed him, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.” Then He revealed, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:1-6).

God provided the law as guidance, as reflected in the prophet's words, declaring Moses to be a ‘tutor’ (Galatians 3:24). The law served as a precursor to the ultimate truth, and its purpose pointed towards the mystery of Christ, shown clearly in this vision. The thorn bush symbolizes a plant that is barren and thistle-like, yet it was enveloped in a great flame. An angel appeared as fire, a flame that soared high yet did not harm the bush. This extraordinary phenomenon defied comprehension, as the fire encompassed the thorns without consuming them, as if it chose to forget its destructive nature and gently embraced what it could easily destroy. Such a vision captivated Moses. The meaning of this vision is profound; Scripture compares the Divine nature to fire, representing its omnipotence and ability to overcome all things. In contrast, it likens man, fashioned from the earth, to the trees and grass of the field. Thus, it is written: "Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29; cf. Deuteronomy 4:24) and "the days of man are like grass; like a flower of the field, so he flourishes" (Psalm 102:15). Just as fire is intolerable to thorns, so too is the divine essence to humankind. However, in Christ, this essence became bearable, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, as the wise Paul proclaimed (Colossians 2:9). He dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16) and chose to inhabit the Virgin's womb, demonstrating His humility and making His divine power accessible to us, much like fire can be near thorns. Yet, what is inherently prone to decay—the flesh—He revealed as fundamentally corrupt. This mystery is symbolized by the fire in the bush, which preserved the bush completely unharmed. The Word, who came from God, vivified His own temple, rendering it incorruptible and triumphant over death, for He is by nature Life (John 14:6). Just as the fire spared the thorns, the flame overlooked a frail bush; so too, the Godhead became reachable by humankind. This encapsulated the mystery within Christ.

The Word of God took residence among us, not to impose judgment or punishment but to enlighten us with grace and gentle influences. As stated, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17). Therefore, the bush was not consumed despite being enveloped in flames. The judgment for our sins was not placed upon us; rather, Christ continues to illuminate us through the Holy Spirit, remaining with us so that we may call Him "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). Amazed by the vision, the blessed Moses declared, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush does not burn" (Exodus 3:3). However, he was quickly interceded upon by the angel who spoke as God, saying, "Do not come near; take off your shoes from your feet, for the ground where you stand is holy" (Exodus 3:5). He called the desolate wilderness—which produced only thorns—a sacred space because wherever Christ is present is holy ground.

The mention of the wilderness symbolizes the Church among the Gentiles, corresponding with Scripture: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose" (Isaiah 35:1). God promises elsewhere to transform the wilderness into pools of water and the dry land into springs (Isaiah 41:18). The grace of our Savior has been abundantly poured out upon us, called from among the Gentiles, as if a river overflowing with high currents is flooding us with abundance. The divine David also relates: "He turns rivers into a wilderness, and water springs into dry ground, and a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it" (Psalm 106:33-34). Thus, in the wilderness stands the bush, and the land it occupies is holy and consecrated to God.

Moses, upon approaching, faced a barrier and was instructed to remove his sandals. This act symbolizes death and decay; all footwear is made from the remains of a deceased animal. Therefore, Christ remains inaccessible to those bound by the law and under the guardianship of childhood. It is necessary to cleanse from the filth and dismiss the uncleanness of sin. Yet, it cannot be that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sins (Hebrews 10:4), for no man is justified by the law (Galatians 3:11). Since sin has not yet been abolished, corruption reigns, and death continues to dominate the unclean. Those seeking the mystery of Christ must first set aside the ministry of types and shadows, which yield neither salvation nor freedom from sin. This recognition will lead them into the holy land, that is, the Church. Christ Himself made it clear that those who do not renounce the ministry of the law remain under corruption's sway, stating: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). This sacrament is not for those governed by the law, but for those embracing faith, justified in Christ, receiving a teaching that surpasses the law, specifically the gospel. Thus, those still weighed down by sin, likened to being under the law, are distanced from Christ. However, when they shed their shoes, which symbolize corruption lacking the ability to justify, and receive true, life-giving grace, they will draw near to the one who justifies the ungodly—Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to God the Father, with the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

To ascend Sinai from this route, it is necessary to take the path that wraps around the eastern slope at about half its elevation, allowing access to the fruitful highlands located on the northern side of Sinai. The sacred mountain, known as Sinai in its true sense, is identified by Captain Wilson’s survey committee as the peak now referred to as Ras-Sufsafeh, which rises in the northern area of the Sinai mountains, with a vast plain stretching out before it. Er-Ra ha Horiv is among the mountains associated with Sinai on the eastern flank of Ras-Sufsafeh.