What is the meaning of Exodus 3:1? Meanwhile - The word signals a gap of time between Exodus 2 and the burning-bush encounter. - Acts 7:29-30 clarifies that “after forty years had passed,” God appeared to Moses—so four decades have slipped by while God’s plan moved forward out of sight. - God’s work often ripens quietly (cf. Habakkuk 2:3, “Though it lingers, wait for it”). In those unseen seasons He is never idle. Moses was shepherding the flock - Moses, once a prince of Egypt, is now tending sheep—an occupation despised by Egyptians (Genesis 46:34). God is reshaping his character through humility (Numbers 12:3). - Shepherding trains qualities a deliverer will need: • Vigilance (1 Samuel 17:34-35) • Tender care (Isaiah 40:11) • Courage to face predators (John 10:11) - Scripture repeatedly links faithful shepherds to faithful leaders (Psalm 78:70-72). Moses is in God’s classroom. His father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian - Jethro reminds us that God has witnesses outside Israel. Later Jethro will praise the LORD for the Exodus (Exodus 18:10-12). - As “priest of Midian,” he represents a line of faith descending from Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4). - Moses’ submission to this patriarch models respect for family order (Ephesians 6:2). He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness - “Far side” (literally the back of) pictures isolation. God often meets His servants in solitary places (Mark 1:35). - The journey hints at perseverance—sheep must be guided to sustenance even when it lies beyond familiar ground (Psalm 23:4). - Every step deeper into the wilderness moves Moses closer to divine appointment (Hosea 2:14). He came to Horeb, the mountain of God - Horeb (also called Sinai, Exodus 19:11) will become the stage for the covenant, but it is already “the mountain of God” because His presence defines the place (Genesis 28:16-17). - God leads Moses to the very location where Israel will later receive the Law—His plans interlock seamlessly (Psalm 33:11). - The scene foreshadows future revelations: Elijah will meet God here in a whisper (1 Kings 19:8-13); Jesus will fulfill the Law given here (Matthew 5:17). Summary Exodus 3:1 shows God quietly preparing Moses during forty unnoticed years. Through humble shepherding under Jethro’s roof, across lonely stretches of wilderness, and up to Horeb’s heights, the Lord arranges every detail for the moment He will speak from the burning bush. The verse assures us that seasons of obscurity are never wasted; they are God’s chosen route to equip His servants for greater works. |
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