Christ's appearing to Moses in the burning bush - Jonathan Edwards

“One is Christ's appearing to Moses in the burning bush, which we read of in Exodus 3:2, "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." This burning bush represents the church in Egypt that were persecuted there, and yet not consumed. But not only so, but it represents Christ in his passion; for it was Christ that appeared to Moses in that bush; as is evident, because he is called "the angel of the Lord." And it was not a created angel, but the angel of the covenant; as is evident, because he tells Moses that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that his name is "I am that I am." This bush that he appeared in represents the human nature of Christ that is called the branch, and is the growth of the earth. It was not an high tree, but a low bush, to represent Christ in his state of humiliation, when he was as "a tender plant, and a root out of a dry ground."

Christ was said to have dwelt in this bush. Deuteronomy 33:16, "With the good will of him that dwelt in the bush." So Christ dwells in the human nature, betabernacled in flesh. This bush burned with fire to represent how the human nature of Christ suffered in the fire of God's wrath. As the bush burned and was not consumed, so Christ's human nature suffered extremely, endured the wrath of God, but yet did not utterly perish, but revived again out of the flame. God did not leave his soul in hell, nor suffer his Holy One to see corruption. The fire spent all its force upon the bush; but yet because of the divinity that dwelt in it, it was impossible it should be consumed. So the wrath of God spent all its force on the man Christ Jesus; but yet because of the divinity that dwelt in him, it was impossible that he should be utterly destroyed, but came to life again on the third day, and ascended up to heaven.”

- Jonathan Edwards, The free and voluntary suffering and death of Christ

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