Meeting God in the Wilderness

Exodus 3:1–4 (NASB95)

1Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Commentary - Meeting God in the Wilderness

Moses was tending sheep in the far reaches of the wilderness when God called to him. The wilderness is a recurring setting in Scripture where God’s people often find themselves alone, wandering, or uncertain. Moses was not the only one to meet God in such a place. Elijah fled to Horeb and heard God’s voice in a gentle whisper. Israel wandered forty years in the desert, learning dependence on God. John the Baptist preached repentance in the wilderness. Jesus Himself was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days of testing before beginning His ministry. Paul spent time in Arabia after his conversion, being shaped for his calling. The wilderness is not just a place of emptiness. It is where God strips away distractions and meets His people in powerful ways.

The mountain where Moses encountered God is called Horeb here, but it is the same as Mount Sinai. This mountain will become the center of Israel’s story in the chapters ahead. It is where God will give the Law and establish His covenant with His people. Horeb, or Sinai, is called the mountain of God because of the great events that will unfold there, not just because of the burning bush. The story is preparing us for the importance this mountain will have in the life of Israel. 

When Moses saw the burning bush, the text says the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flames. Throughout the Old Testament, the Angel of the Lord is not just a messenger. The Angel speaks as God, is identified as God, and accepts worship. Christian theology has long understood these appearances as the pre-incarnate Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, revealing Himself before He took on flesh. The Angel of the Lord is God Himself, coming near in a way that Moses could bear. 

God did not appear to Moses in a thunderstorm or an earthquake. He came in a humble thornbush, burning but not consumed. This detail is rich with meaning. God chooses the lowly and ordinary as the setting for His presence. The bush’s endurance in the fire is a sign that God’s people will not be destroyed by the fires of oppression. The humility of the bush points us to Christ, who came not in royal splendor but as a baby in Bethlehem, in a forgotten corner of the world. God’s glory is often hidden in the ordinary and the overlooked. The burning bush is a miracle, but it is also a lesson. Do we see God’s miracles in the ordinary things of life? The birth of a child, the beauty of creation, the quiet moments of grace—these are places where God’s presence burns without consuming. God often meets us in the small and simple, inviting us to turn aside and pay attention. 

This encounter also shows us the pattern of prevenient grace. In Wesleyan theology, prevenient grace is the grace that goes before us, preparing our hearts before we ever seek God. Moses was not looking for God. God sought Moses. God called out only after Moses turned aside to see the bush. This is the pattern throughout Scripture. God initiates. God calls. God prepares the way for us to respond. Our ability to answer God’s call is itself a gift of grace. But do not miss this point: God speaks to Moses only after Moses first responds to Him. That is a pattern we see throughout Scripture, with few exceptions. God will give us reasons to notice Him, but it is our choice whether we do or don’t. If we choose to stop and notice God, to call out to Him, He will make Himself known to us. Are you stopping to notice God in your life, to involve Him? 

For us today, these verses are an invitation to pay attention to God’s presence in the wilderness seasons of our lives. When we feel alone, lost, or uncertain, God may be closer than we think. He meets us in humble places and ordinary moments. He calls us by name and invites us to step into His purposes. Let us be people who turn aside, who listen for God’s voice, and who trust in His grace, presence, and power. 

Blessings,  

Ryan Goodnight