Moses: Curious, Courageous, and Insecure

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading is the familiar story of the burning bush, Exodus 3:1-15. Reading a little extra will give us some helpful context. In Exodus 2:11-25 we get a sense of Moses as a young man. If we continue to read a bit longer (Exodus 3:16-4:20) we learn some more about Moses through his dialogue with God. You can read from 2:11-4:17 in the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh translation at Sefaria.org.

We have short stories (2:11- 22) that give us some insight into what sort of person Moses was. He was concerned about justice and sided with the oppressed and the victim. In the first story Moses intercedes when an Egyptian is beating Hebrew, then he intercedes in a fight between two Hebrews and ends up having to flee for his life. He ends up in Midian and one of the first things Moses does is intercede in a conflict between Midianites over access to water.

These stories also tell us that Moses doesn’t fit comfortably anywhere. He is not Egyptian enough, and he is not Hebrew enough. He certainly isn’t Midianite enough. Being raised in Pharaoh’s household doesn’t keep Pharaoh from trying to kill Moses. The Hebrews don’t appreciate or respect him. The Midianites think he is Egyptian. Even after living with the Midianites, marrying into a family and having a child, Moses still feels like an outsider, naming his son, Gershom, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

Then we come to today’s reading, the well known story of the burning bush. Moses reaction is odd, don’t you think? If I had a flock of sheep and saw a “blazing fire” I think I would be focused on getting the sheep and myself out of there and to safety. But not Moses. He gazes at the bush and then is curious about it. He appears to have to go at least a little bit out of the way to better see what is happening. God calls to Moses after seeing that Moses has turned aside.

To walk toward this blazing fire requires courage and also curiosity. Both of which lead to Moses theophany, his encounter with God.

Moses’ insecurity, his courage, and his curiosity all play a part in his encounter with God. He feels unworthy. He has questions. He is courageous enough to enter into dialogue with God.

Moses knows he is capable of confronting injustice on a personal level- intervening in fights, ensuring fair access to resources. But what God is now asking is an enormous task. To convince the oppressed to organize and claim their freedom; To confront Pharaoh, who had essentially unlimited power; To lead the people into a completely unknown future. No wonder Moses raises a series of reasons why he is not the right person for the task.

God responds to Moses’ questions, worries, and objections. God doesn’t magically smooth the way for Moses. Rather God explains to Moses what to do. When Moses’ says he is “slow of speech and slow of tongue”, God doesn’t “fix” Moses, God gives Moses the help he needs. Moses’ disability, whatever it was, doesn’t disqualify him. Finally Moses starts to do what God has asked him to do. Moses doesn’t go alone, he has Aaron, he has his wife and family, and of course, God who accompanies Moses and the people all along their way.

Moses’ calling expands when God calls him to lead systemic changes. The creation of Israel will be the creation of a unique nation. God is asking Moses to do something new. And it’s because Moses noticed and was curious.

I wonder, when has curiosity led you into something unexpected?