We find him, as Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (Chapter 40) tells us, leading his flock. Not just anywhere, mind you, but all the way to Horeb. That's right, Mount Sinai, also known as Horeb. As Exodus 3:1 puts it, "And he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb." He’s just a shepherd, doing his job, probably not expecting anything earth-shattering.
And then... boom! The Holy One, blessed be He, reveals Himself in a burning bush.
Now, this isn't just any bush. Moses sees it ablaze, but it's not consumed. The fire is raging, but the bush remains. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer points out a fascinating detail: the bush needs water to grow. So, what's the deal? What is this strange, unexplainable phenomenon?
Moses, naturally, is curious. He's thinking, "What kind of kavod (glory, honor) is in its midst?" He says to himself, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the thorn-bush is not burnt." And that's when things get really interesting.
The Holy One calls out to him: "Moses!" And then comes a command, a preparation for something truly momentous: "Stand where thou art standing, for there in the future will I give the Torah to Israel." (Exodus 3:5). The very spot where Moses is standing, witnessing this impossible sight, is destined to be the place where the Torah, the foundation of Jewish law and tradition, will be given. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Then comes another command, "Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5). This act of removing shoes, of acknowledging the sacredness of the space, becomes a precedent. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer tells us that this is why anyone who enters the Temple must remove their shoes. A powerful reminder of the divine presence and the respect it demands.
So, what does this all mean? Why a burning bush? Why Moses? Maybe it's about being open to the unexpected, to recognizing the divine even in the most ordinary of places. Maybe it's about understanding that we are all, in some way, standing on holy ground, poised for moments of profound revelation. And maybe, just maybe, it's a reminder to take off our shoes, both literally and metaphorically, and approach the world with humility and awe.