Take, for example, the story of Moses and the burning bush.
Moses, tending his flock near Mount Horeb, a place already imbued with a sense of holiness – even the birds seemed to know to avoid landing there – experiences something extraordinary. As Ginzberg recounts in Legends of the Jews, the mountain itself almost moves to greet Moses, settling only when he steps onto it. And then, there it is: the burning bush.
But this isn't just any fire. This is a fire that blazes without consuming. It's a celestial fire, described as black in color, that miraculously produces blossoms even as it burns. The Zohar tells us that such celestial fire has three unique qualities: producing blossoms, not consuming what it touches, and being black in color. What could this possibly mean?
According to some traditions, the fire was actually the angel Michael, acting as a herald for the Shekinah – the Divine Presence – which was about to descend. God, wanting to speak with Moses, uses this incredible sight to capture his attention, to pull him away from his shepherding duties. It works. Moses stops. And God speaks.
But why a thorn-bush? Why this seemingly insignificant plant?
There are many interpretations, each offering a different facet of understanding. First, the thorn-bush was considered "clean," unsuitable for idol-making by the heathens. This signifies its purity, its connection to the Divine.
More profoundly, God's choice to dwell in this humble bush is meant to convey that He suffers alongside Israel. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, the thorn-bush symbolizes the suffering of the Israelites in exile.
And there's more. The thorn-bush reminds us that nothing in existence, not even the lowliest plant, can exist without the presence of the Shekinah. Everything is touched by the Divine.
But the symbolism doesn't stop there. The thorn-bush can also be seen as a metaphor for Israel itself. Just as the thorn-bush is the most humble of trees, so too was Israel in exile, compared to other nations. Yet, just as the thorn-bush snags and lacerates any bird that lands on it, so too will those nations that oppress Israel face punishment.
The thorn-bush, thorny and protective, is like a hedge around God's garden – the world. Without Israel, the world cannot endure. It’s a powerful image of Israel's role in the cosmic order. Furthermore, just as the thorn-bush produces both thorns and roses, so too does Israel contain both righteous and impious members. And, mirroring the thorn-bush’s need for ample water to thrive, Israel needs the Torah – the celestial water – to prosper.
According to tradition, the five leaflets on the thorn-bush also symbolize the five pious men – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and Moses – for whose sake God was resolving to redeem Israel.
Even the numerical value of the Hebrew word for thorn-bush, Seneh (סנה), which equals one hundred and twenty, is significant. It hints at Moses' lifespan of one hundred and twenty years, and the length of time the Shekinah would rest on Mount Horeb.
Ultimately, God's choice to speak from a lowly thorn-bush, rather than a towering mountain or majestic cedar, is a profound lesson in humility. It’s a reminder that the Divine can be found in the most unexpected places, in the most humble of forms.
So, the next time you encounter something seemingly insignificant, a weed pushing through the pavement, or a small act of kindness, remember the burning bush. Remember that even in the lowliest of things, there can be a spark of the Divine, a message waiting to be heard. What is the "burning bush" in your life, the unexpected source of wisdom and revelation?