MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH

Moses was a shepherd who tended to his flocks in the desolate wilderness of Midian. He had fled there years earlier, after killing an Egyptian who had been mistreating a Hebrew slave. Despite his humble life, Moses often thought about his people, the Israelites, who were enslaved in Egypt.

One day, while Moses was tending his sheep, he saw a strange sight on a nearby hill. A bush was burning, but it was not being consumed by the flames. Intrigued, Moses approached the bush, and he heard a voice calling to him from within it.

“Moses, Moses,” the voice said.

Moses was afraid and hid his face. But the voice spoke again, telling him not to be afraid and revealing that it was the voice of God.

God told Moses that He had heard the cries of the Israelites and had seen their suffering. He had chosen Moses to be the one to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the land that He had promised to their ancestors.

Moses was hesitant, feeling unworthy of such a task. But God reassured him, telling him that He would be with him every step of the way.

As Moses listened, he realized that he was in the presence of something far greater than he had ever imagined. He took off his sandals, for he knew that he was standing on holy ground.

Over the next few days, God gave Moses specific instructions about how to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was to confront Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and demand that he let the Israelites go free.