Introduction
   When Moses fled to Midian, after slaying the Egyptian, he helped some women water their flock. And finding favor, he received of their father, Zipporah to wife. In turn, Moses became a shepherd for the elder’s flock. After forty years had passed, Yahweh appears to Moses in the burning bush, as it is written:
   Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of Elohim, [even] to Horeb. And the angel of Yahweh 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, Exodus 3:1-2.

Word Analysis:
   b r j Horeb #2722: desolate
   h n c s Bush #5572: seneh: thorn-bush
   y n y s Sinai #5514: thorn-bush
   (From the Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexico—Davidson, p. 575)
   The mountain of Elohim is where Moses brought Israel to when leaving Egypt, then called Sinai because of the thorn-bush which Moses saw burning. It was here that Yahweh gave Israel the Ten Commandments and where, the everlasting covenant was made. Though some attempt to explain Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai as being two different locations, such as Sinai being a summit on Mount Horeb, others view the names as being interchangeable for the same mountain. Moses had the burning bush experience at Mount Horeb and thus referred to it as Mount Sinai (thorn-bush).
   Throughout Scripture, there are many shadows and types, and in doing word analysis, a better understanding may be gained into things that occur later on, like the significance of a burning bush.
   Exodus 19:18 records that, And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because Yahweh descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
   Another parallel to the thorn-bush would be the crown of thorns placed on Yahshua’s head - And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29.
   It was Yahshua Who spoke to Moses from the burning bush (see our In-Depth Combined Studies, Did the Savior Pre-Exist?), for Yahshua is the Word of Yahweh (John 1:1-3, 14), and upon saying, “It is finished” at Calvary (John 19:30), the earth quaked (Matt. 27:51).
   It was in the wilderness, the land of Midian (#4080, contention) that Moses spent forty years before Yahweh sent him to Egypt. It was in the wilderness, that Israel spent forty years before entering the promised land. And it was in the wilderness, that Yahshua spent forty days before His ministry began.

The Wilderness to the Promised Land
   Hebrews 5:8-9 asserts that, Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him. And James 1:2-4 counsels:
   My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing [this], that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
   It is in this present life that some are brought into the wilderness for refinement. For, many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand, Daniel 12:10.
   The promised land is always, on the other side of the wilderness. Israel stumbled at the Promise, when 10 of the 12 sent forth into Canaan, did not share in Caleb’s urging the people, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it, Numbers 13:30 instead, returning with a bad report:
   We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we … And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight, Numbers 13:31, 33.
   The subsequent punishment for Israel’s unbelief, was 40 years wandering in the wilderness until they should be reduced to carcass.

A Faith-Walk, Not a Sight-Walk
   Though obstacles before us may look like giants, things or situations which appear too difficult to overcome, nevertheless we are instructed to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) … While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:18
   In speaking of faith, Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and [that] He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The choices made, the words spoken, and the actions done, attest to one’s belief/faith or lack thereof. While in the dry and barren land, do you give way to temptation or seek Yahweh’s guidance? The bottom line is, Whom do you serve? And where do the desires of your heart abide?
   Yahweh’s commandments, which He wrote upon the stone tablets with His own finger, are the essence of the everlasting covenant made with Israel on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:5-8; 31:18). They are the standard by which all men will be judged.
   But sad to say, most people when asked to recite the Ten Commandments cannot. Yes, pastors included! This is due to the deception of the adversary and a willing ignorance of people (2 Pet. 3:5):
   For My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your Elohim, I will also forget your children, Hosea 4:6.
   Yahweh’s hand of judgment will soon go forth upon the disobedient as read in Isaiah 24:5-6:
   The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Conclusion
   If you are in a state of slumber, it is time to awaken! Embrace the everlasting covenant, learn the Ten Commandments and walk each day in obedience (Exod. 20:2-17; Deut. 5:6-21). Therein is the pathway of sanctification; (Yahshua is the gateway of justification by Whom all must enter for salvation). Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth [is] Mine: And you shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words you shall speak unto the children of Israel, Exodus 19:5-6.
   This is repeated in 1 Peter 2:9-10, where we read, But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of Elohim: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
   Once again, Malachi 4:4 says, Remember you the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments.
   The shofar is sounding, a warning cry is made: Take heed, judgment is at hand!
   Come My people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, Yahweh comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain, Isaiah 26:20-21.
   And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book, Daniel 12:1.
   May Yahweh guide you through the wilderness and bring you safely into the promised land.