The burning bush incident in Exodus 3 shows the divine Messenger appearing to Moses in a flame of fire. The account states that the Lord and God spoke and identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses was instructed to tell the Israelites that the Lord God of the fathers appeared to him. Verse 16 indicates that the Lord God appeared and presented Himself visibly. This demonstrates identical actions between the Lord and the Angel rather than two separate beings with one seen and one heard. The event supports the identification of the Angel as the God of the fathers who interacted with Moses and the patriarchs.

In Exodus chapter 3 Moses was tending the flock when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. The bush was burning with fire but the bush was not consumed. Moses turned aside to see this great sight. God called to him from the midst of the bush. God told Moses not to draw near that place and to take off his sandals because the place where he stood was holy ground. The ground was holy because God's presence was in that place. The word holy means hallowed sacred special and a place set apart for God. The dirt the rocks the vegetation the wood the metal and everything around the bush was made sacred because God's presence was there. Moses could not discern that he was standing on holy ground because the ground looked like it did any other time. God demonstrated His Spirit and His power in the burning bush. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God. God came down from heaven to deliver a message to Moses. God established who He was by burning the bush without it being consumed. This was a way of showing Moses His perfection. Fire is used for purifying. This moment marked the beginning of Moses' transformation.

The burning bush marks God's first direct contact with Moses after eighty years of preparation. Moses tended the flock near Horeb when the Angel of the LORD appeared in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. The bush burned with fire yet was not consumed. Moses turned aside to see the sight. God called to him from the midst of the bush and instructed him to remove his sandals because the place was holy ground. God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He declared that He had seen the oppression of His people in Egypt and would deliver them. God commissioned Moses to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. When Moses asked what name to give the children of Israel, God answered that His name is I AM WHO I AM. God further instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel that I AM has sent him and that this name is His forever and His memorial to all generations. The word memorial translates the Hebrew zeker. The same I AM later declared to the Pharisees that He predated Abraham by stating, Before Abraham was, I AM.