In a warm land called Midian lived a man named Moses. Moses was a shepherd and took care of many sheep. One day he led the sheep up a high mountain. The mountain was called Horeb.
While Moses was there with the sheep, he saw something very special. There was a bush that caught fire! But the strange thing was that the bush didn’t burn. It just kept burning and didn’t turn to ashes.
Moses was very curious. He wanted to get closer to take a close look at the burning bush. But then he suddenly heard a voice from the bush. The voice said, “Moses! Moses!”
Moses was surprised and answered, “Here I am!”
The voice belonged to God. God spoke to Moses through the burning bush. God said, “Don’t come closer! Take off your shoes, because you are standing on holy ground.”
Moses took off his shoes and hid his face, because he had great respect for God.
God said to Moses, “I have seen how my people in Egypt suffer. I want you to go to them and help them. I will be with you.”
Moses was a little scared and said, “But, God, I’m just a simple shepherd. What should I say to the people?”
God said, “Tell them that I sent you. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I promise that I will go with you.”
Moses listened and understood that God had chosen him to help his people. Trusting that God would help him, he went out to do all that God had told him to do.
Message of history
God has big plans for each of us. Even when we feel small, God is always with us and helps us to be courageous.
Bible passage
The story of the burning bush is in 2. Moses, chapter 3, verses 1-6:
“And Moses shepherded the sheep of Jethros his father-in-law the priest of Midian, and he drove the sheep out of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush. And he looked, and behold, the bush burned in the fire, and yet the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will come and see this great vision, why the bush does not burn.” But when the Lord saw that he came to see, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses!” Moses! He answered, “Here I am!” Then he said, “Do not come nearer.” Take off your shoes from your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy land! And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”
