God was speaking to Moses from the burning bush—specifically the One Les Feldick identifies as Jehovah, God the Son, Jesus the Christ.
Scripture says "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush" and then reveals the divine name "I AM THAT I AM." Les Feldick points out that the "LORD" (Jehovah) speaking in Exodus 3 is God the Son, and he teaches that God and Jehovah are used synonymously because Christ is God. He also notes that the voice from the bush was the voice of Jehovah.
Exodus 3:2 — Records that the angel of the LORD appeared in the flame of the burning bush, setting up the encounter.
Exodus 3:4 — Explicitly states that God called to Moses out of the bush by name.
Exodus 3:6 — God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exodus 3:7 — The LORD (Jehovah) speaks from the bush about His people's affliction.
Exodus 3:13-14 — God gives His covenant name, I AM THAT I AM, as the name Moses is to carry to Israel.
In Exodus 3, Moses turns aside to see the burning bush, and Scripture records that "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush" (Exodus 3:4). The same passage then records God's self-identification: "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). In verse 7, it is "the LORD" who says, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people." When Moses asks what name he should give Israel, God answers, "I AM THAT I AM... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:14). The biblical text itself describes one speaker in the bush who is addressed as both God and the LORD.
Les Feldick teaches that although the one speaking from the bush is called God, the Scripture further reveals this speaker as "the angel of the Lord," "the Redeemer," "God the Son," and "Jehovah" (Clip 1). He emphasizes that God and the voice from the bush are used synonymously because Christ is God (Clip 2). In Clip 4, Les explains the flow of Exodus 3: the word "God" is Elohim, the triune God, but when the text says "the LORD" in capital letters, that is Jehovah, and "who is Jehovah? God the Son. Who's God the Son? Jesus the Christ." Therefore, Les concludes that "it's God the Son, it's the Lord who is speaking out of the burning bush."
Les Feldick says, "I don't think Moses sees Him here bodily like Abraham did back there in Genesis 18, but the voice was still the voice of Jehovah" (Clip 5). He later explains that in the burning bush God "doesn't appear in human form, but He appears by way of a human voice" (Clip 6).
Les teaches that the word "God" in Exodus 3 is Elohim, the triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit. Then in verse 7 the text uses "LORD" in capital letters, which Les identifies as Jehovah, God the Son. He says the terms "God" and "the voice, which is Jehovah" are used synonymously "because Christ is God" (Clip 2).
When Moses asks God for His name, God replies, "I AM THAT I AM... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Les says, "The I am again. See, the Jehovah, I am that I am" (Clip 3). In Clip 7, he explains that the term Jehovah in the Old Testament stood for the I AM, and this is especially seen at the burning bush.
Les agrees with a comment he read years ago that the burning bush was "also a picture of Israel." Just as the bush burned but was not consumed, Israel has continually been "in the fires of judgment" yet the nation is still on the scene (Clip 5). He repeats the point in Clip 2: "it was burning with fire, but it wasn't consumed, and so also is the nation of Israel."
Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a 30-minute walk through the Scriptures, teaching in-depth Bible truths that change people's lives. Now, here's your host, Les Feldick. And it's My, we haven't lost anyone today, have we? Okay, turn back with me again to Exodus chapter 3. We'll pick up where we left off.
The Angel of the Lord in the Bush
Les teaches that the one in the bush is the angel of the Lord, the Redeemer, God the Son, and Jehovah, even though He is also called God.
God and Jehovah Used Synonymously
Les explains that God and the voice of Jehovah are used interchangeably because Christ is God, and he also sees the burning bush as a picture of Israel.
The I AM Name
At the bush, God tells Moses His name is I AM THAT I AM and instructs Moses to tell Israel that I AM has sent him.
Who Is the LORD Speaking?
Les connects the term LORD in capital letters to Jehovah, who is God the Son, Jesus the Christ, and concludes that He is the one speaking from the bush.
The Voice of Jehovah
Les says Moses hears the voice of Jehovah from the bush rather than seeing a bodily form, and he treats the unburned bush as a picture of Israel.
Appearing by Human Voice
Les explains that in Exodus 3 God appears not in human form but by way of a human voice, and Moses calls Him God.
Jehovah Is the I AM
Les teaches that Jehovah in the Old Testament stands for the I AM, and the burning bush is where God tells Moses that I AM has sent him.
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 verse introduces the burning bush and the presence of the LORD's angel in the flame.
Exodus 3:4: And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
This shows that the voice from the bush belongs to God, who calls Moses by name.
Exodus 3:6: Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
God identifies Himself as the God of the patriarchs, the same God who is speaking to Moses.
Exodus 3:7: And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
It is the LORD who speaks from the bush, expressing His concern for Israel in Egypt.
Exodus 3:13-14: And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
God reveals His divine name, I AM THAT I AM, as the answer Moses is to give to Israel.
God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Les Feldick teaches that this voice was specifically Jehovah, God the Son, Jesus the Christ, and that God and Jehovah are used synonymously in the passage.
Yes, Exodus 3:2 says "the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush." Les identifies this as Christ, the angel of the Lord, God the Son, who is also called God.
In Exodus 3:14, God tells Moses that His name is I AM THAT I AM and says, "I AM hath sent me unto you." Les teaches that Jehovah stands for the I AM, and this is seen especially at the burning bush.
Les explains that the "LORD" in capital letters in the King James Version is Jehovah, and he identifies Jehovah as God the Son, Jesus the Christ. He also says the terms "God" and "the voice, which is Jehovah" are used synonymously because Christ is God.
Watch the Teaching: Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed