Why God Revealed Himself From Within the Thornbush

Another interpretation: "in a flame of fire" [belabbat esh] — for the heart [lev] is set in two parts. Why from within the thornbush and not from within another tree? The Holy One, blessed be He, says, "I am with him in trouble" (Psalms 91:15); they are placed in bondage, and shall I reveal Myself from within another tree? Therefore from within the thornbush, which is wholly full of thorns. "And Moses said: I will turn aside now and see" (Exodus 3:3). Rabbi Yohanan said: Moses took three steps. Resh Lakish said: He did not step, but only craned his neck. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: You troubled yourself to see; by your life, I shall reveal Myself to you. At once, "And God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses, and he said: Here am I." The Holy One, blessed be He, said: You said "Here am I"; by your life, so too will I, "Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say: Here am I" (Isaiah 58:9). "And he came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb" — for from there [from Horeb] those who bear swords [charavot] became liable, such as the murderer, the adulterer, and the adulteress.