Doug Van Pelt

The Great Exodus.3

In the third chapter of Exodus, Moses sees a burning bush that doesn't consume the bush itself. 'I'm going to check this out,' he thinks to himself. As he gets closer, the Lord calls out to him. "Do not come any closer, the place you are standing is holy ground..."

This is interesting, huh? What is "holy ground?" This is the first time I figure that God brings this up in the Bible (at least as it's laid out currently. Many bible scholars say that Job was written before the first five books in our Old Testament). Up to this point, God has spoken with people, walked in the Garden with them, and even wrestled with man. But this is the first time he tells someone to "take their shoes off because they're standing on holy ground." Why did He make this declaration about this spot of ground? That's pretty fascinating, if you ask me.

God tells Moses that He's heard the cries of misery from His people. He tells Moses that he's going to lead his people out of Egypt. He promises that a sign of his sending will be that he will worship God on this mountain (Horeb). Moses asks for a reference. "Who do I tell them sent me?" God's answer is ominous: "I Am Who I Am." That is a powerful Name. So is: "The Lord, the God of your fathers -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."

He promised to "make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed." Isn't it cool that God plans ahead and manages every little detail? He not only helped them escape, He provided for them with abundance. The Bible will show a consistent example of this kind of provision.