Poetry · Chapter
The Burning Bush and the Commission explained
Moses, having fled to Midian, becomes a shepherd and nurtures his faith in solitude.
What happens
Moses, having fled to Midian, becomes a shepherd and nurtures his faith in solitude. Years later, he encounters the burning bush at Horeb, where God commissions him to demand Israel's freedom from Pharaoh. He returns to Egypt with his family, reunites with Aaron, gathers the elders of Israel, and delivers God's message to Pharaoh, who scornfully refuses.
Themes in this chapter
Freedom and Liberation
Moses is commissioned to demand the release of the oppressed Israelites, marking the dawn of their deliverance.
Faith and Divine Justice
Moses' faith is nurtured in solitude, and God's justice is proclaimed through the burning bush and the message to Pharaoh.
Resilience and Sacrifice
Moses endures years of exile and patiently awaits his destiny, then sacrifices his peaceful life to answer God's call.
Characters to notice
- Moses
Moses, now a shepherd in Midian, receives his divine commission at the burning bush and returns to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.
- Aaron
Aaron meets Moses at Horeb, sent by God to be his spokesman, and accompanies him to Pharaoh.
- Jethro
Jethro bids Moses farewell in peace, blessing his journey back to Egypt.
- Pharaoh
Pharaoh receives Moses and Aaron with scorn, refusing to heed the God of Israel.
- Israel
The elders of Israel gather to hear Moses' message and respond with thankfulness to God.
Key passages
“Men grow strong in action, but in solitude Their thoughts are ripened.”
People become powerful through deeds, but it is in quiet reflection that their ideas mature.
This opening line sets the theme of Moses' transformative solitude in Midian.
“Then Moses said I’ll turn aside to see This sight, and as he turned he heard a voice Bidding him lay his sandals by, for Lo! he Stood on holy ground.”
Moses decided to investigate the burning bush, and as he approached, a voice commanded him to remove his sandals because he was on sacred ground.
This moment marks the divine encounter at Horeb, a pivotal turning point in Moses' life.
“Thus reasoned that proud king, And turned a deafened ear unto the words Of Moses and bis brother, and yet he felt Strangely awed before their presence, because They stood as men who felt the grandeur Of their mission, and thought not of themselves, But of their message.”
The arrogant king dismissed their words, but he was still awed by their demeanor, for they embodied the greatness of their divine mission, focused entirely on their message rather than themselves.
Pharaoh's scorn is tempered by an involuntary respect for Moses and Aaron's prophetic authority.