Exodus 3:1
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding
The Hebrew word for "shepherding" is "ra'ah," which means to tend, pasture, or graze. This word not only describes the physical act of caring for sheep but also carries a deeper spiritual connotation of leadership and guidance. Moses, once a prince of Egypt, is now humbly tending sheep, a role that prepares him for shepherding God's people. This transition from royalty to shepherd signifies a period of preparation and humility, essential for his future leadership.

the flock of his father-in-law Jethro
Jethro, also known as Reuel, is identified as Moses' father-in-law and a priest of Midian. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah, indicating a shared heritage with the Israelites. This connection highlights the providential relationships God orchestrates in Moses' life. The act of shepherding Jethro's flock symbolizes Moses' integration into a new family and culture, which further shapes his character and understanding of leadership.

the priest of Midian
Jethro's role as a priest suggests a spiritual dimension to his character and influence on Moses. The Midianites, though not Israelites, had a form of worship and recognition of the divine. This context provides Moses with a broader understanding of God's work beyond the confines of Israel, preparing him for his mission to lead a diverse group of people.

He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness
The "wilderness" in Hebrew is "midbar," often associated with desolation and solitude but also a place of divine encounter and revelation. Moses' journey to the far side of the wilderness signifies a movement away from the familiar into a place where God can speak to him without distraction. This setting underscores the theme of isolation as a precursor to divine revelation, a pattern seen throughout Scripture.

and came to Horeb, the mountain of God
Horeb, also known as Sinai, is a significant location in biblical history, often referred to as the "mountain of God." This designation indicates its importance as a place where God reveals Himself to His people. The mountain becomes a sacred space where Moses will later receive the Ten Commandments. The mention of Horeb here foreshadows the profound encounters Moses will have with God, marking it as a pivotal place of covenant and divine instruction.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
A Hebrew by birth, raised in Pharaoh's household, and now living in Midian. He is shepherding the flock, indicating a period of humility and preparation.

2. Jethro
Moses' father-in-law, also known as Reuel, a priest of Midian. His role as a priest suggests a spiritual influence in Moses' life during his time in Midian.

3. Midian
A region where Moses fled after leaving Egypt. It represents a place of refuge and transformation for Moses.

4. Horeb
Also known as Mount Sinai, it is referred to as the "mountain of God." This location is significant for future divine encounters and the giving of the Law.

5. The Wilderness
Symbolic of a place of testing, preparation, and encounter with God. It is where Moses is being prepared for his future leadership role.
Teaching Points
God's Preparation in the Wilderness
The wilderness is often a place where God prepares His people for future tasks. Like Moses, we may find ourselves in a "wilderness" season where God is shaping our character and faith.

The Role of Humility in Leadership
Moses' role as a shepherd teaches us the importance of humility and servanthood in leadership. God often uses humble beginnings to prepare us for greater responsibilities.

Divine Encounters in Ordinary Places
Horeb, the mountain of God, was an ordinary place until God chose to reveal Himself there. We should be open to encountering God in our everyday lives.

Spiritual Influence of Family and Community
Jethro's role as a priest suggests the importance of spiritual mentorship and community in our faith journey. Surrounding ourselves with godly influences can guide us in our walk with God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' time in the wilderness prepare him for his future role as a leader of Israel? Reflect on a time when you experienced a "wilderness" season and how it shaped you.

2. In what ways can we practice humility and servanthood in our current roles, following Moses' example as a shepherd?

3. How can we remain open to divine encounters in our everyday lives, similar to Moses' experience at Horeb?

4. What role does spiritual mentorship and community play in your life, and how can you seek or provide such guidance?

5. How does the concept of God using ordinary places for extraordinary purposes encourage you in your daily walk with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 7:30
Stephen recounts Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush, emphasizing the divine calling and preparation Moses underwent.

Exodus 19:3
Moses returns to Horeb (Mount Sinai) with the Israelites, where God gives the Ten Commandments, showing the mountain's continued significance.

1 Kings 19:8
Elijah travels to Horeb, the mountain of God, seeking refuge and divine guidance, paralleling Moses' experience of divine encounter.
The Bush that Burned, and Did not Burn OutAlexander MaclarenExodus 3:1
The Call of MosesAlexander MaclarenExodus 3:1
Moses At the BushJ. Orr Exodus 3:1-5
The Burning BushD. Young Exodus 3:1-5
The Bush and its SuggestionsJ. Orr Exodus 3:1-5
A Beautiful Conjunction of the Natural and SupernaturalJ. Parker, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
A Great SightJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
Access to GodG. Hughes, B. D.Exodus 3:1-6
Cultivate ReverenceG. D. Boardman.Exodus 3:1-6
Desert RevelationsW. H. Davison, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
Exile ProfitingsSir Walter Scott.Exodus 3:1-6
From Curiosity to ReverenceJ. Parker, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
God Calls Truth-Seekers by NameJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
God's Bible not ConsumedJ. J. Wray.Exodus 3:1-6
Great SightsJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
Holy GroundPreacher's AnalystExodus 3:1-6
Holy GroundJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
Honest VocationsBishop Hall.Exodus 3:1-6
LessonsG. Gilfillan.Exodus 3:1-6
Lowering the Standard of ReverenceChristian AgeExodus 3:1-6
Man in Relation to MysteryJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
Moses and the Burning BushHomilistExodus 3:1-6
Moses as the BushC. Stanford, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
Moses At the Burning BushBp. Boyd Carpenter.Exodus 3:1-6
Moses' Education and Life-WorkE. L. Hull, B. A.Exodus 3:1-6
Moses Encouraged by the Burning BushHomilistExodus 3:1-6
Put Off Thy Shoes. -- ReverenceBp. S. Wilberforce.Exodus 3:1-6
Religious AweJ. Parker, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
ReverenceA. Hodge.Exodus 3:1-6
Reverence in God's PresenceG. Bush.Exodus 3:1-6
Solitude a Preparation for ServiceH. O. Mackey.Exodus 3:1-6
Soul VisionsJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Betraying Bush; Or, the Church in the WorldD. Rowlands, B. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushA. Nevins, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushHomilistExodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushJ. McNeill.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushW. Jay.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushT. Macconnell.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushJ. C. Gray.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Bush and the FireJ. H. Kurtz, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Bush as an EmblemA. Nevins, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Call of MosesE. Judson.Exodus 3:1-6
The Divine Call and its SignW. A. Gray.Exodus 3:1-6
The Earth Holy GroundJ. E. Rankin.Exodus 3:1-6
The God of MosesLyman Abbott, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Humility and Reverence of an Accepted WorshipperJ. Slade, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Manifestation of GodBritish WeeklyExodus 3:1-6
The Moral Preparation and Condition Necessary for the Beholding of Heavenly VisionsJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Name of a Good Man Vocal on the Lips of GodJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Neighbourhood of HorebA. Edersheim, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Prophetic VisionG.A. Goodhart Exodus 3:1-6
The Reception of the Christian MysteriesBp. S. Wilberforce.Exodus 3:1-6
The Soul's Tutoring Aside to See Often Leads to Visions of GodJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Truth-Seeker's ResponseJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 3:1-6
The Vision and the VoiceT. Jones.Exodus 3:1-6
Unclogged FeetJ. Trapp.Exodus 3:1-6
Usefully EmployedWilliam Jay.Exodus 3:1-6
Value of ReverenceBp. S. Wilberforce.Exodus 3:1-6
Was This a Great Sight?A. Nevins, D. D.Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning BushH.T. Robjohns Exodus 3:1-10
People
Amorites, Canaanites, Egyptians, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jebusites, Jethro, Moses, Perizzites, Pharaoh
Places
Egypt, Horeb, Midian
Topics
Backside, Behind, Desert, Farthest, Father-in-law, Feeding, Flock, God's, Horeb, Jethro, Keeping, Kept, Law, Leadeth, Led, Midian, Mid'ian, Mount, Mountain, Pasturing, Priest, Tended, Waste, West, Wilderness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 3:1

     4230   desert
     5103   Moses, significance
     5685   fathers, responsibilities
     7785   shepherd, occupation

Exodus 3:1-2

     5901   loneliness

Exodus 3:1-5

     1406   burning bush
     1449   signs, purposes
     5102   Moses, life of
     7438   sanctuary

Exodus 3:1-6

     1443   revelation, OT
     7775   prophets, lives

Exodus 3:1-10

     4269   Sinai, Mount

Library
June 7. "When Ye Go; Ye Shall not Go Empty" (Ex. Iii. 21).
"When ye go; ye shall not go empty" (Ex. iii. 21). When we are really emptied He would have us filled with Himself and the Holy Spirit. It is very precious to be conscious of nothing good in ourselves; but, oh, are we also conscious of His great goodness? We may be ready to admit our own disability, but are we as ready to admit His ability? There are many Christians who can say, "We are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves"; but the number I fear is very small who can say,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Bush that Burned, and did not Burn Out
'And, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.' EXODUS iii. 1 It was a very sharp descent from Pharaoh's palace to the wilderness, and forty years of a shepherd's life were a strange contrast to the brilliant future that once seemed likely for Moses. But God tests His weapons before He uses them, and great men are generally prepared for great deeds by great sorrows. Solitude is 'the mother- country of the strong,' and the wilderness, with its savage crags, its awful silence,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Call of Moses
'Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel, out of Egypt. 11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12. And He said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13. And Moses said unto God, Behold,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fourth Day. Holiness and Revelation.
And when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, He called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground. And Moses hid his face, for He was afraid to look upon God.'--Ex. iii. 4-6. And why was it holy ground? Because God had come there and occupied it. Where God is, there is holiness; it is the presence of God makes holy. This is the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

May the Tenth God's Use of Men
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people ... come now, therefore, I will send thee." --EXODUS iii. 1-14. Does that seem a weak ending to a powerful beginning? The Lord God looks upon terrible affliction and He sends a weak man to deal with it. Could He not have sent fire from heaven? Could He not have rent the heavens and sent His ministers of calamity and disasters? Why choose a man when the arch-angel Gabriel stands ready at obedience? This is the way of the Lord. He uses human means
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Moses
(Fifth Sunday in Lent.) EXODUS iii. 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. And now, my friends, we are come, on this Sunday, to the most beautiful, and the most important story of the whole Bible-- excepting of course, the story of our Lord Jesus Christ--the story of how a family grew to be a great nation. You remember that I told you that the history of the Jews, had been only, as yet, the history of a family. Now that family is grown to be a great tribe, a great herd of people, but not
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Introduction to Ad Afros Epistola Synodica.
(Written About 369.) The synodical letter which follows was written after the accession of Damasus to the Roman see (366). Whether it was written before any Western synod had formally condemned Auxentius of Milan (see Letter 59. 1) may be doubted: the complaint (§10) is rather that he still retains possession of his see, which in fact he did until 374, the year after the death of Athanasius. At any rate, Damasus had had time to hold a large synod, the letter of which had reached Athanasius.
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Letter xxv. To Marcella.
An explanation of the ten names given to God in the Hebrew Scriptures. The ten names are El, Elohim, Sabaôth, Eliôn, Asher yeheyeh (Ex. iii. 14), Adonai, Jah, the tetragram JHVH, and Shaddai. Written at Rome 384 a.d.
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

The Training of a Statesman.
MOSES IN EGYPT AND THE WILDERNESS.--EX. 1:1; 7:5. Parallel Readings. Goodnow, F. J., Comparative Administrative Law. Hist. Bible I, 151-69. And he went out on the following day and saw two men of the Hebrews striving together; and he said to the one who was doing the wrong, Why do you smite your fellow-workman? But he replied, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and said, Surely the thing is known. When, therefore,
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

Christian Worship,
PART I In the early days of the Gospel, while the Christians were generally poor, and when they were obliged to meet in fear of the heathen, their worship was held in private houses and sometimes in burial-places under-ground. But after a time buildings were expressly set apart for worship. It has been mentioned that in the years of quiet, between the death of Valerian and the last persecution (A D. 261-303) these churches were built much more handsomely than before, and were furnished with gold
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

The Incarnation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final Development of Hellenism in Its Relation to Rabbinism and the Gospel According to St. John.
It is strange how little we know of the personal history of the greatest of uninspired Jewish writers of old, though he occupied so prominent a position in his time. [173] Philo was born in Alexandria, about the year 20 before Christ. He was a descendant of Aaron, and belonged to one of the wealthiest and most influential families among the Jewish merchant-princes of Egypt. His brother was the political head of that community in Alexandria, and he himself on one occasion represented his co-religionists,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

On the Symbols of the Essence' and Coessential. '
We must look at the sense not the wording. The offence excited is at the sense; meaning of the Symbols; the question of their not being in Scripture. Those who hesitate only at coessential,' not to be considered Arians. Reasons why coessential' is better than like-in-essence,' yet the latter may be interpreted in a good sense. Explanation of the rejection of coessential' by the Council which condemned the Samosatene; use of the word by Dionysius of Alexandria; parallel variation in the use of Unoriginate;
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Question of the Division of Life into the Active and the Contemplative
I. May Life be fittingly divided into the Active and the Contemplative? S. Augustine, De Consensu Evangelistarum, I., iv. 8 " Tractatus, cxxiv. 5, in Joannem II. Is this division of Life into the Active and the Contemplative a sufficient one? S. Augustine, Of the Trinity, I., viii. 17 I May Life be fittingly divided into the Active and the Contemplative? S. Gregory the Great says[291]: "There are two kinds of lives in which Almighty God instructs us by His Sacred Word--namely, the active and
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Baptist's Inquiry and Jesus' Discourse Suggested Thereby.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XI. 2-30; ^C Luke VII. 18-35. ^c 18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things. ^a 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent by his disciples ^c 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them unto the Lord [John had been cast into prison about December, a.d. 27, and it was now after the Passover, possibly in May or June, a.d. 28. Herod Antipas had cast John into prison because John had reproved him for taking his brother's wife.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Of Preparation.
That a Christian ought necessarily to prepare himself before he presume to be a partaker of the holy communion, may evidently appear by five reasons:-- First, Because it is God's commandment; for if he commanded, under the pain of death, that none uncircumcised should eat the paschal lamb (Exod. xii. 48), nor any circumcised under four days preparation, how much greater preparation does he require of him that comes to receive the sacrament of his body and blood? which, as it succeeds, so doth it
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Sabbath in Capernaum
It was the Holy Sabbath - the first after He had called around Him His first permanent disciples; the first, also, after His return from the Feast at Jerusalem. Of both we can trace indications in the account of that morning, noon, and evening which the Evangelists furnish. The greater detail with which St. Mark, who wrote under the influence of St. Peter, tells these events, shows the freshness and vividness of impression on the mind of Peter of those early days of his new life. As indicating that
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Eternity of God
The next attribute is, God is eternal.' Psa 90:0. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.' The schoolmen distinguish between aevun et aeternum, to explain the notion of eternity. There is a threefold being. I. Such as had a beginning; and shall have an end; as all sensitive creatures, the beasts, fowls, fishes, which at death are destroyed and return to dust; their being ends with their life. 2. Such as had a beginning, but shall have no end, as angels and the souls of men, which are eternal
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Christian's God
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1; 17:1; Exodus 34:6,7; 20:3-7; Deuteronomy 32:4; 33:27; Isaiah 40:28; 45:21; Psalm 90:2; 145:17; 139:1-12; John 1:1-5; 1:18; 4:23,24; 14:6-11; Matthew 28:19,20; Revelation 4:11; 22:13. WHO IS GOD? How Shall We Think of God?--"Upon the conception that is entertained of God will depend the nature and quality of the religion of any soul or race; and in accordance with the view that is held of God, His nature, His character and His relation to other beings, the spirit
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Mary, Future Mother of Jesus, visits Elisabeth, Future Mother of John the Baptist.
(in the Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 39-56. ^c 39 And Mary arose in these days [within a week or two after the angel appeared to her] and went into the hill country [the district of Judah lying south of Jerusalem, of which the city of Hebron was the center] with haste [she fled to those whom God had inspired, so that they could understand her condition and know her innocence--to those who were as Joseph needed to be inspired, that he might understand--Matt. i. 18-25], into a city
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Links
Exodus 3:1 NIV
Exodus 3:1 NLT
Exodus 3:1 ESV
Exodus 3:1 NASB
Exodus 3:1 KJV

Exodus 3:1 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Exodus 2:25
Top of Page
Top of Page