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“Moses was tending the sheep” on Mount Horeb and saw an angel “in a flame of fire from a bush” (Ex. 3:1-2). When he came closer to examine the bush, which was burning with fire and not being consumed, then he saw that it was not the Angel whom he had seen before, but God, Who was at first in the form of an Angel, calling to him. He appeared to Moses in a terrible vision and said: “Do not approach this as one approaches an ordinary place. The place is... holy, like the one on which Jacob slept. That place was holy because there was a ladder there along which Angels descended and ascended to guard Jacob. And this place is holy, because here God is in the flame of a burning bush. Tear off your boots (Ex. 3:5), and go to trample the Egyptians, because thirty years have already passed since the time for gathering Egyptian grapes has arrived.” When Moses saw a vision that was unbearable for his eyes, then “turn away... your face: for you should look in reverence at God” (Ex. 3:6), although he had first looked at the Angel. The bush, from which it is inconvenient to make images of dead gods, is recognized as suitable for depicting the mystery of the living God. And to you, Moses, a sign is given in this: just as you saw God dwelling in fire, so you must serve God dwelling in fire with fire. “And the Lord said to him...: Having seen the slavery of My people... in Egypt for eighty years. And he came down to take them away by your hand and bring them into the land of Canaan,” which he promised to their fathers (Exod. 3:7–8, Gen. 17:7–8). - “And Moses said to God: Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh?” ( Ex. 3:11 ). When I had a royal name, I did not please Pharaoh. Now that I have been humbled to be a shepherd, who will allow me to enter before Pharaoh? And if I do enter, what great thing will he find in me to believe my words? - “And the Lord said to him: Gather together the elders, “whose cry... came to Me” (Exodus 3:9) and said to them: I have remembered them and will bring them to the land of Canaan (Exodus 3:15–17). And if you are afraid that they will not listen to you, then I tell you that they will listen to your voice. Go with the elders to Pharaoh... and say: Let us therefore go the way of three days... that we may eat for the Lord (Ex. 3:18).” Since Pharaoh will not agree to this, both he and his army will go on a three-day journey and become prey for animals and birds that will nest on their bodies, thrown up by the waves onto the seashore. As I told you about the children of your people, who will listen to you, so I speak about Pharaoh, who will not listen to you. But not out of hope for the strength of his hand and for the protection of his idols, but out of pride, for which “I will strike the Egyptians with all the wonders... even I will do in them: and yet he will let you go” (Ex. 3:20). And to further ensure that you will leave Egypt, “I will give grace to this people” (Ex. 3:21), and they will take over the Egyptians, and through this the promise I made to Abraham will be fulfilled. For the Jews, after they have stolen and carried away all the Egyptian treasures, it will be impossible for them to even look at the Egyptians. You might be interested in: