Moses and the Burning Bush

Moses had grown up in Pharaoh's palace but fled to the desert after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. He became a shepherd in the land of Midian and married a woman named Zipporah. His dramatic royal life seemed to be over.

One day, while tending his flock near Mount Horeb, Moses saw something astonishing — a bush was on fire, but it was not burning up. He went closer to look, and a voice called out from the bush: "Moses! Moses! Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.

God told Moses that He had heard the cries of His people suffering in Egypt, and He was sending Moses to free them. Moses said, "Who am I to do this? I am not a good speaker." But God said, "I will be with you." When Moses asked God's name, God said: "I AM WHO I AM." This holy name — YHWH — became the most sacred name in all of Scripture. The Coptic Church teaches us to approach God with the same reverence Moses showed, removing our shoes before the holy altar.