Exodus 3:6
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God doesn't just claim to be the God of past patriarchs, but emphasizes His ongoing relationship by declaring, "I am the God of your father." This isn't merely a historical reference, but a powerful assurance that God's covenant faithfulness transcends time and continues to embrace the present, even as Moses is struck with awe and fear.
God is appearing to Moses in a burning bush, a powerful, miraculous sign meant to get his attention. After calling Moses by name, God reveals Himself not just as a distant deity, but as the God intimately connected to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of Moses' own lineage. Moses is so overwhelmed by the sheer holiness of God’s presence that he hides his face, trembling before the divine majesty.
When God introduced Himself to Moses, He didn't just say 'I am God.' He said something much more personal and powerful. What does it mean that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
God's first words to Moses at the burning bush were not just a statement of His power, but a reminder of His faithfulness. By saying, 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,' God was doing a few key things:
A Reminder of Relationship
This wasn't just a historical roll call. God was emphasizing His covenant relationship with these patriarchs. He had made promises to them – promises of land, descendants, and blessing. This statement meant, 'I am the God who made promises to them, and I am here to fulfill them.' It grounds His appearance in a history of faithfulness.
Continuity Through Time
By linking Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – generations past – God assured Moses that His relationship wasn't limited to the past. The patriarchs were gone, but God declared Himself still their God. This powerful declaration, as Jesus later explained (Matthew 22:32), implies their continued existence and God's enduring relationship with them. It shows God is eternal and His commitments never fade.
Personal Invitation
God was calling Himself the God of Moses's father and then the fathers of the nation. This wasn't just about abstract promises; it was about a God who enters into personal relationships and continues them through generations. He was inviting Moses into that same covenant lineage.
Moses's immediate reaction to this divine revelation was to hide his face. What was behind this intense fear, and what can it teach us about approaching God?
When the divine presence became undeniable, Moses didn't rush forward with questions or demands. His instinct was to withdraw and hide.
Reverential Fear
This encounter happens at a critical moment, linking God's ancient covenant promises to the immediate suffering of His people and the chosen deliverer, Moses, who had been away from them for decades.
c. 1800 BC
God's Covenant with Abraham
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants and land, a promise that would extend through Isaac and Jacob.
c. 1500s BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
Generations after Jacob's family settled in Egypt, their descendants became enslaved, suffering harsh oppression under a new dynasty.
c. 1440s BC
Moses' Life in Midian
After fleeing Egypt for killing an Egyptian, Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd in Midian, seemingly far removed from his people's plight.
c. 1440s BC— this verse
The Burning Bush Appears
While tending sheep at Mount Horeb, Moses encounters a miraculous burning bush, a divine sign that draws him near.
Jesus directly uses God's declaration to Moses, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,' to prove the resurrection of the dead, highlighting that God is a God of the living, not the dead.
Hebrews 11:16This passage echoes the sentiment that God is not ashamed to be called their God because He has prepared a better country for believers, connecting the covenant faithfulness seen in Exodus to the ultimate hope of an eternal home.
Isaiah 6:5Similar to Moses' reaction, Isaiah, upon encountering the Lord in a vision, cries out, 'Woe is me! For I am a man of unclean lips,' revealing the profound awe and sense of unworthiness felt in the presence of God's holiness.
Genesis 28:17When Jacob awakens from his dream at Bethel, he exclaims, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven,' showing a similar fearful reverence upon a divine encounter.
Acts 7:32Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, quotes God's self-identification to Moses as 'the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob,' emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant promises through generations.
bensonExodus 3:6: "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
Exodus 3:6 . I am, &c. — He lets him know it is God that speaks to him, to engage his reverence, faith, and obedience. The God of thy father — Thy pious father Amram, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy ancestors: engaged to them by solemn covenant, which I am now come to perform. And Moses hid his face, for…
calvinExodus 3:6-9: "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
Ego Deus patris tui, Deus Abraham, Deus Isaac, et Deus Jacob. Et operuit Moses faciem suam, quia timuit aspicere ad Deum.
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Et dixit Jehova…
God doesn't just claim to be the God of past patriarchs, but emphasizes His ongoing relationship by declaring, "I am the God of your father." This isn't merely a historical reference, but a powerful assurance that God's covenant faithfulness transcends time and continues to embrace the present, even as Moses is struck with awe and fear.
God is appearing to Moses in a burning bush, a powerful, miraculous sign meant to get his attention. After calling Moses by name, God reveals Himself not just as a distant deity, but as the God intimately connected to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of Moses' own lineage. Moses is so overwhelmed by the sheer holiness of God’s presence that he hides his face, trembling before the divine majesty.
God is appearing to Moses in a burning bush, a powerful, miraculous sign meant to get his attention. After calling Moses by name, God reveals Himself not just as a distant deity, but as the God intimately connected to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of Moses' own lineage. Moses is so overwhelmed by the sheer holiness of God’s presence that he hides his face, trembling before the divine majesty.
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Moses was afraid because he was in the presence of absolute holiness and majesty. This wasn't the cowering fear of a slave, but the reverential awe of someone confronting something far greater than themselves. The burning bush, a symbol of God's powerful presence, was overwhelming.
Awareness of Sinfulness
This fear also stems from a deep awareness of human sinfulness and inadequacy in the face of God’s purity. The more we glimpse God’s glory, the more we understand our own unworthiness. Even angels cover their faces before Him (Isaiah 6:2), showing that this profound respect is part of how God’s true nature is perceived.
Preparing for Obedience
While fear was the initial reaction, it was a fear that prepared Moses for obedience. This encounter instilled in him the seriousness and gravity of the task God was about to give him. It’s a reminder that genuine encounters with God should humble us and prepare our hearts to listen and obey.
"And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God." — God doesn't just claim to be the God of past patriarchs, but emphasizes His ongoing relationship by declaring, "I am the God of your father." This isn't merely a historical reference, but a powerfu…
