Exodus 3:2
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
EXODUS 3:2
The divine presence is mediated through an angelic manifestation in a burning bush that is not consumed. The “angel of the LORD” often represents God Himself in a visible form (a theophany). Fire symbolizes purification, presence, and holy energy; its persistence in a bush that does not burn signals a miraculous sign, not just a spectacle. The setting at Horeb again emphasizes encounter over argument, invitation over coercion. The miracle serves as a sign that the living God has entered human history to speak, reveal, and call.
This verse anchors the reality that God reveals himself in ways understandable yet awe-inspiring. Fire as divine presence prefigures Pentecost and the Spirit’s consuming, yet empowering, work in believers. The burning bush indicates holiness that does not consume the creature but transforms it through divine contact. It also communicates that God is relentlessly faithful to his promises: a sign to Moses that God will act in power to fulfill the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God’s presence can interrupt ordinary scenes with extraordinary purpose. Do you notice the “fire moments” in life—an unsettling awareness of injustice, a compelling idea to help someone in need, or a surprising calm in crisis? When you sense God’s nearness, pause to listen. Practical step: create space for reflective listening—daily quiet time to note what stirs your heart, and ask what God might be inviting you to do in response.
Cross-References: Genesis 15:17; Psalm 104:4; Acts 2:3; Isaiah 6:2-3; Hebrews 12:29