Lesson date: 7/20/5855AA

Verse 1 – In verse 1 we find Mosheh shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep. This will prove to be valuable experience for the coming next 40 years. We have looked at the Hebrew word for shepherd or shepherding before, it is: H7462 – רָעָה – râ‛âh – raw-aw’ A primitive root; to tend a flock, that is, pasture it; intransitively to graze

What caught my attention with this verse is that ra’ah is used in conjunction with another verb: H1961 הָיָה – hâyâh – haw-yaw’ – A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist,

We will see this verb used in a very important way in Verse 14. Following these two verbs is (H853). We see Mosheh in the wilderness (midbar) at a mountain called desert. It is almost as though this verse is highlighting how miserable Mosheh’s existence was; herding sheep in a deserted wilderness. But remember, midbar means wilderness or deserted place can also mean mouth and comes for the root word debar – H1696 – which means speak, declare, counsel and is where we get the word Debarim, which is the name of the 5^th Book of Torah – Deuteronomy which can serve as a powerful reminder that sometimes He has to bring us into the wilderness or despair before we can hear the Word.

Verse 2 – Once again we see the phrase “Messenger of YHVH” or Messenger of Elohim” being employed. H4397 – מלאך – mal’âk – BDB Definition: 1) messenger, representative, deputy, ambassador. Many people mistaking believe that this is YHVH in angelic form. I do not. Rather, I believe that this is one of His angels, upon which He has placed His name and is therefore recognized as YHVH. Specifically, I believe that this refers to none other than Yeshua: Rev 10:1  And I saw another strong messenger coming down from the heaven, robed in a cloud, and a rainbow on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like columns of fire,

Note the use of the word appeared: H7200 – ראה – râ’âh – BDB Definition: 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

If you look back to the word for “shepherd” you’ll notice how similar the words look and even though the pronunciations appears to be the same it isn’t. Even though you have to ‘see or perceive’ in order to be a good shepherd the two words are not synonymous.

Verse 3 – H4758 – מראה – mar’eh – BDB Definition: 1) sight, appearance, vision 1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, This word can also mean beautiful, comely, handsome. This leads to think Mosheh may have said “Let me turn and see this beautiful sight.” The word for ‘bush’ is: H5572 – סנה – seneh – BDB Definition: 1) a bush, thorny bush

‘Seneh’ is only used 6 times in the entire Tanakh, 5 times here in Exodus 3 and one more time in Debarim: Deu 33:16  with the choicest of the earth and all that fills it, and the good pleasure of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come on the head of Yosĕph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

Verse 4 – will turn aside now’ is – אָסֻרָה־נָא – ‘a’surah-na’. Notice the “na” at the end of the word, and yes, it is the word for “please” but is usually translated in the KJV “Pray, let me”.

“Here I am” :  1Sa 3:4  And יהוה called Shemu’ĕl, and he answered, “Here I am!”

Isa 6:8  And I heard the voice of יהוה, saying, “Whom do I send, and who would go for Us?” And I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Verse 5 – Exo 3:5  And He said, “Do not come near here. Take your sandals off your feet,

I have tried to include a clip from our chart of Covenants. The sandal covenant is Torah and it is indicative of us walking in the Way.

Jos 5:15  And the Captain of the host of יהוה said to Yehoshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is set-apart.” And Yehoshua did so.

Remember the priestly garments of the high-priest – there are no shoes: Eph 6:15  and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;

Rom 10:15  And how shall they proclaim if they are not sent? As it has been written, “How pleasant are the feet of those who bring the Good News of peace, who bring the Good News of the good!”

So, was Sha’ul quoting himself as the voice of authority? No. Isa 52:7  How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!”

Verses 7-9 – These verses make it clear that YHVH hears the cries of oppression of His people. There have been times in my life when I thought YHVH did not hear my cries of heartbreak and suffering but, He did. I just forgot to call on His Name. He knew what I was going through and feeling and experiencing and He was waiting for me to call on Him. This is representative of our relationship with Him on Shabbat and during the feast days, He is already here, He is just waiting for us to call out on Him instead of ourselves.

‘I have come down’ is – וָאְרד – ‘va’ereḏ’ – H3381 – ירד – yârad – BDB Definition: 1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.

The father of Hanok was Yered and let’s look at it in context since we are in Shemoth:

AḎAM – SHĚTH – ENOSH – QĚYNAN – MAHALAL’ĚL – YEREḎ – ḤANOḴ – METHUSHELAḤ – LEMEḴ – NOAḤ

MAN (IS) APPOINTED MORTAL SORROW, (BUT) THE BLESSED ĚL SHALL COME DOWN TEACHING. HIS DEATH SHALL BRING (THE) DESPAIRING COMFORT AND REST

Notice in verse 8 YHVH comes down in order to “bring up” His chosen people indicating we cannot reach His level but He has to come down to ours. It is also speaking to the fact that Yeshua will have to “come down” to our level in order for us to be saved from ourselves.

Verse 10 – We see YHVH using the word “come” rather than “go” at this point. Come gives the impression that YHVH is leading Mosheh by the hand in the presence of Pharaoh. H1980 – הלך – hâlak – BDB Definition: 1) to go, walk, come 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

Verse 11-12 – “Who am I” This is excuse number 1. In effect what Mosheh is saying is: I am sorry YHVH you must have the wrong number.

Answer number 1 – “Because I am with you.”

Isa 41:10  ‘Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look around, for I am your Elohim. I shall strengthen you, I shall also help you, I shall also uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.’

Rom 8:31  What then shall we say to this? If Elohim is for us, who is against us?

2Co 3:5  Not that we are competent in ourselves to reckon any matter as from ourselves, but our competence is from Elohim,

Verse 13 – Excuse Number 2 – “What shall I say?”

Verses 14-16 – אֶּהיֶּה אְֲשֶּר אְֶּהיֶּה – I Am that which I Am – ‘Eh’yeh asher eh’yeh’ Now Mosheh is fully armed with the Name of Elohim, YHVH. Mosheh is now armed with the most powerful weapon known to man, The Name!!!

Psa 106:21  They forgot Ěl their Saviour, The Doer of great deeds in Mitsrayim,

Isa 19:20  And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to יהוה of hosts in the land of Mitsrayim. When they cry to יהוה because of the oppressors, He sends them a Saviour and an Elohim, and shall deliver them.

Joe 2:32  “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be delivered. For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape as יהוה has said, and among the survivors whom יהוה calls.

Verse 17 – Exo 3:17  and I say: I am…

He YHVH gives us assurance that He is with us by using His Name in His oath “I AM”

Verse 18 – יהוה Elohim of the Heḇrews Elohim of the Hebrews, not Gentiles, not the church but for the Children of Yisra’el, only: Deu 32:8  When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.

Deu 32:9  And his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of his inheritance.

2Ki 5:15  And he returned to the man of Elohim, he and all his company, and came and stood before him and said, “See, now I know that there is no Elohim in all the earth, except in Yisra’ĕl. And now, please take a gift from your servant.”

“let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness”: From Goshen to Mt. Horeb would be approximately 250 miles. Is someone stretching the truth here? How can Mosheh move between 1 and 2 million people plus all the herds and flocks 250 miles in three days? Is it referring to something or someone else? If so, what or whom?

Verses 19-24 – Imagine what Mosheh must have felt when he heard YHVH say: Exo 3:19  “But I know that the sovereign of Mitsrayim is not going to let you go, not even by a strong hand.

I know what my reaction would be, “What!? Are you kidding? What is the point? Can’t you just zap him or something?