WHEN Moses was a stranger in the land of Midian, learning God in the desert, as he one day tended his flock he came to the mount of God, and there his eye was attracted by the spectacle of a bush burning with fire, and as he gazed upon the flame, lo, the bush was not consumed! "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt” (Ex. 3:33And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. (Exodus 3:3)). A bush! not a tail tree, but a lowly bush! And a bush burning, yet living, yet remaining still itself, not consumed! Here was, indeed, a strange sight. What was it? What could it mean?
Now "when Jehovah saw that Moses turned aside to see "—mark this, Christian reader, for there are many wonderful sights to be seen on the earth which none care to contemplate" God called unto him out of the midst of the bush!" Here is a greater wonder. The angel of Jehovah (Jehovah-Jesus) was in the flame of fire that arose out of the midst of the bush, and was there to reveal to Moses God's thoughts about afflicted Israel. For Israel in their affliction was the bush that burned with fire, and since the Lord was with them Israel was not consumed. "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them" (Isa. 9). Moses had a sight of God that day, such as had never before been seen on earth. The poor feeble bush burning with a strong flame, yet unconsumed, for the angel of the Lord was there.
What a lovely sight of Divine grace, and condescending tenderness, and of supporting mercy! There are such bushes burning with fire to be found on the mount of God still. Tried and tempted, suffering and sorrowing saints with whom Jesus is, sustaining and supporting, and they are not consumed.
“I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt," said the Lord, "and have heard their cry." Yes, He sees the affliction of His own, and, blessed be His Name, “in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." He hears the cry of sorrow, and though it may be, at times, almost despairing, His love and His pity effect deliverance.