And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses' response reveals his practical, investigative nature, not just awe. He's not immediately struck by the divine, but by a phenomenon needing explanation—a sign of his intelligent, grounded personality that God uses. This shows that God often encounters us not in moments of perfect spiritual readiness, but in the midst of our ordinary, curious lives.
And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses, tending his flock in the wilderness, encounters a startling sight: a bush ablaze yet unharmed. This remarkable event captures his attention, prompting him to investigate this unusual phenomenon, setting the stage for God's dramatic self-revelation and the call of Moses to deliver Israel.
Moses saw a bush ablaze, yet unharmed. His immediate thought wasn't fear, but fascination and a desire to understand. What does this tell us about his character?
A Mind Ready for God
Moses, a shepherd for 40 years, wasn't easily startled. When he saw the burning bush, his first instinct was intellectual: 'I will turn aside... why the bush is not burned.' This shows a man of sense and intelligence, not prone to panic.
His curiosity wasn't about the spectacle itself, but the reason behind it. He approached the unusual phenomenon with a desire to investigate and understand. This isn't reckless boldness, but a readiness to engage with the unknown, spurred by a deep-seated inquisitiveness that had been honed by years of solitary contemplation in the wilderness.
God often meets us not in grand cathedrals, but in the everyday – even a simple bush in the desert. How does this transform our understanding of divine encounters?
Holiness in the Humble
This wasn't just any bush; it was a place where God chose to reveal Himself. The commentators highlight that the ground became holy because God appeared there. This teaches us a profound truth: God can and does make the ordinary sacred.
Moses' long years as a shepherd, seemingly mundane, prepared him for this moment. God met him in his work, in the quiet solitude of the desert. This encounter reminds us that our daily routines and humble tasks can become the very stage for God's self-disclosure, if we approach them with a receptive and attentive heart.
Ask a follow-up
Moses' desire to understand the burning bush wasn't just human curiosity; it was the very way God was drawing him closer. How does God use our questions to ready us for His purpose?
The Divine Invitation
Moses' thought, 'I will turn aside and see,' wasn't just a personal decision; it was an invitation from God. The commentators suggest that this inquisitiveness was divinely inspired, a way God prepared Moses' mind to receive the deeper revelation that was coming.
He was drawn by a 'great sight' and sought its cause. This eagerness to know why something is happening is precisely what God uses to pull us into His plans. It demonstrates a tractability, a willingness to step closer and learn, which is essential for anyone who seeks to follow God's call.
Moses' encounter with the burning bush occurs after decades of quiet shepherding, a stark contrast to his earlier life as an Egyptian prince. This period of humility and reflection is crucial preparation for his monumental task of leading Israel out of Egypt.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Pastors Sheep in Midian
Moses, now 80 years old, has spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian after fleeing Egypt. This period of quiet solitude prepares him for his future leadership.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus of Israelites Begins
The oppression of the Israelites in Egypt has reached its peak. Their cries reach God, who remembers His covenant and prepares to deliver them.
c. 1446 BC
God Appears to Moses at Horeb
While tending his flock, Moses encounters a burning bush that is not consumed. This supernatural event marks God's direct intervention and call to Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Moses is Commissioned as Deliverer
God reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses expresses doubt due to his past actions and perceived lack of eloquence.
c. 1446 BC
Signs and Wonders Performed
To convince Moses and the Israelites, God empowers Moses with signs: his staff becomes a snake, his hand becomes leprous and then healed.
c. 1446 BC
Aaron Joins Moses
God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to speak for him, addressing Moses' concern about his speaking ability. They return to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.
This passage speaks of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, mirroring how God, in the burning bush, revealed Himself in a tangible, visible way to Moses.
Hebrews 12:29It describes God as a consuming fire, which powerfully echoes the visual of the burning bush and emphasizes God's holiness and purifying presence.
Isaiah 43:2This verse promises God's presence through fire and water, drawing a parallel to Moses encountering God in fire that did not consume, symbolizing His protection even amidst trials.
Psalm 119:105The psalm describes God's word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, connecting to Moses' encounter with divine light and revelation in the bush.
pulpitExodus 3:3: "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
Verse 3. - I will turn aside. Suspecting nothing but a natural phenomenon, which he was anxious to investigate. The action bespeaks him a man of sense and intelligence, not easily scared or imposed upon.
gillExodus 3:3: "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
And Moses said, I will now turn aside,.... From the place where he was, and the flock he was feeding, and get nearer to the bush, which seems to have been on one side of him and not directly before him: and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt; inquire into, and find out, if he could, the reason of this strange and amazing sight; how it could be that a bush should be on fire and…
Moses' response reveals his practical, investigative nature, not just awe. He's not immediately struck by the divine, but by a phenomenon needing explanation—a sign of his intelligent, grounded personality that God uses. This shows that God often encounters us not in moments of perfect spiritual readiness, but in the midst of our ordinary, curious lives.
Moses, tending his flock in the wilderness, encounters a startling sight: a bush ablaze yet unharmed. This remarkable event captures his attention, prompting him to investigate this unusual phenomenon, setting the stage for God's dramatic self-revelation and the call of Moses to deliver Israel.
Moses, tending his flock in the wilderness, encounters a startling sight: a bush ablaze yet unharmed. This remarkable event captures his attention, prompting him to investigate this unusual phenomenon, setting the stage for God's dramatic self-revelation and the call of Moses to deliver Israel.
"And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”" — Moses' response reveals his practical, investigative nature, not just awe. He's not immediately struck by the divine, but by a phenomenon needing explanation—a sign of his intelligent, grounded perso…
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Last reviewed October 2026