Moses is now eighty years old and has spent forty years in Midian after his earlier forty years in Egypt. The man who was once trained in Pharaoh’s court is now a shepherd in the wilderness, caring for the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. This long period in the desert was not wasted time but divine preparation. God was training Moses in obscurity before using him publicly.
The reference to Jethro rather than Reuel likely reflects either another name or title for Moses’ father-in-law. The text does not explain the variation, though Jethro may function as a title of honor.
Moses leads the flock to Horeb, called here “the mountain of God.” Horeb is another name for Sinai. The title may be anticipatory, since this mountain would later become the place of major divine revelation, including the giving of the Law in Exodus 19-20. It is also possible the title reflects a later editorial or retrospective description. In any case, the location is important. Moses is in a remote and isolated place, on the backside of the desert, seemingly far removed from Egypt and from any thought of leadership. Yet this is precisely where God meets him.
This verse reminds the reader that Moses may have thought his life’s work was over, but God was only beginning His public purpose for him.
The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as a shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his
learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God. To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and
justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of
respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his belief of a future
state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Lu 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.
Moses is now eighty years old and has spent forty years in Midian after his earlier forty years in Egypt. The man who was once trained in Pharaoh’s court is now a shepherd in the wilderness, caring for the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. This long period in the desert was not wasted time but divine preparation. God was training Moses in obscurity before using him publicly.
The reference to Jethro rather than Reuel likely reflects either another name or title for Moses’ father-in-law. The text does not explain the variation, though Jethro may function as a title of honor.
Moses leads the flock to Horeb, called here “the mountain of God.” Horeb is another name for Sinai. The title may be anticipatory, since this mountain would later become the place of major divine revelation, including the giving of the Law in Exodus 19-20. It is also possible the title reflects a later editorial or retrospective description. In any case, the location is important. Moses is in a remote and isolated place, on the backside of the desert, seemingly far removed from Egypt and from any thought of leadership. Yet this is precisely where God meets him.
This verse reminds the reader that Moses may have thought his life’s work was over, but God was only beginning His public purpose for him.
The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as a shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his
learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God. To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and
justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of
respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his belief of a future
state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Lu 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.