Moses at the Burning Bush

Basic Info

Exodus 2:23—4:17 

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s household, but when he was grown he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave (one of his own people) and he killed the Egyptian. He realized that this was a problem, so he ran away to Midian. He ended up working as a shepherd for Jethro and marrying Jethro’s daughter. While tending sheep one day, Moses heard his name being called. He followed the sound and saw a bush engulfed in flame but not being burned by the flame.

Moses approached this strange sight and was told to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground. The voice identified itself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and said that the people’s cries had been heard. God was going to rescue them and lead them to a land of milk and honey. God made it clear that Moses was going to be God’s messenger to Pharaoh. Moses tried to get out of it, but God insisted. Moses asked God what name to use to refer to God if the people asked. God said words that translate into English as, “I am who am” or “I am that I am” or “I am who I am” (there is still disagreement among scholars). In the various traditions, it boils down to God as Being, God as anything God wants to be, God as Mystery or a number of other ideas that give God a lot of leeway to be uncontainable by human reason.

Christians have at times emphasized an interpretation of the Burning Bush and the Ark of the Covenant as foreshadowing Mary’s carrying Jesus in her womb in the sense of an earthly object’s (bush / Ark) carrying the Word of God as Mary carried Jesus in her womb.

What to Look For

• The burning bush (symbolic, natural looking, instrument of God, etc.)
• Moses’ reaction to the burning bush (sandals removed, facial expression, gestures, etc.)

Questions to Focus a General Interpretation

Does the artwork convey the significance of this exiled shepherd Moses being called by God to do something big?

Does the artwork convey Moses’ trying to get out of the task, or is it more focused on his eventual acceptance of the commission?

Does the artwork convey God’s uncontainability, even by a name?

Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation

Does the burning bush depicted in the artwork call you to look for mundane circumstances in which God might be present?

Questions to Suggest a Historical Interpretation



Does the artwork reflect the positive or negative side of being called to perform difficult tasks for the sake of a political or religious ideal (go to war, accept low wages, etc.)? Were any such calls common in the artist’s place and time?