Moses Wrote of Me (Jesus) Part Three

The Budding Staff

Rebellion of Korah

In Numbers 16 we have an account of a rebellion against God and against Moses and Aaron, his chosen Prophet and Priest among Israel. Several men gathered together and asked why were they exalted above everyone else if God was among them all, and questioned his authority. Moreover, they show they have no faith in God because they question why they have not been brought into the land promised to their fathers yet.

It's easy to miss but right afterward Moses intercedes requesting that God ignore their offering

Numbers 16:15 (ESV)

15 And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them.”

Moses told them earlier that they are actually rebelling against God. Moses poses a test to be done to know that the Lord is with him and Aaron. Before it, he has passed his judgment and interceded, this time against the rebellious congregation members.

Numbers 16:16–24 (ESV)

16 And Moses said to Korah, “Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” 18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” 22 And they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

They assemble and God judges them according to what Moses had interceded. They too (this time the rest of Israel who was not in rebellion) are frightened and request that they be spared. God then asks them to get away from the tents, so a proper punishment can be in order. Moses again, makes negative intercession for Israel in order to execute the will of God, this time pronouncing an interesting judgment

Numbers 16:28-35 (ESV)

28 And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.”

31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

They were swallowed alive into Sheol as Moses said, and the rest are consumed by fire as God said. God will work according to his will, but will also work in accordance to our own if it aligns. God initially wanted to consume them with fire, but Moses created his own test to show everyone also, and both outcomes were achieved by the power of our Lord.

I believe Paul may have understood this a little, when he said to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 14:32–33 (ESV)

32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

This intervention was not confusing to Israel, they certainly got the message: do not rebel against the Living God.

A Test Set by God

In order to silence the critics against Moses and Aaron, God devises a test to show them for all generations who was chosen to lead the Priesthood. God instructs Israel to collect their staves, and the one staff that blossoms is the one whom God has chosen. Of course, Aaron's staff is the one that buds leaving Israel in fear of God and His chosen.

Numbers 17:1–13 (ESV)

Aaron’s Staff Buds

17 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers’ house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff, 3 and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers’ house. 4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” 6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. 7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.

8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. 10 And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so he did.

12 And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?”

The Staff, once budded, was supposed to dispel any doubt in Israel's mind who is actually supposed to be leading them on behalf of God. God instructs Moses to leave the Staff in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant (the Testimony) for a sign to any rebels who grumble against Him. He didn't just view it as a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but a rebellion against Himself, the same way that those who do not abide in Christ are in rebellion to God also.

New Testament Fulfillment

In John 15, Christ gives some awesome insight and instruction to the disciples that outlines how they are to grow and flourish, not unlike the budding staff of Aaron. The exact same issue was faced by the Apostles that Moses and Aaron had, the people question their authority as Apostles over them. If God is really with them, He will prove it for the assembly similarly.

John 15:1–2 (ESV)

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Jesus is the true vine, this symbolizes the new Priesthood like Aaron's staff symbolized the old one. The Father is the vinedresser, pruning the branches of the vine in order to ensure it bares good fruit. In the same way, God causes the staff of Aaron to bud, and it bore ripe almonds, signifying the growth and fruits of the old Priesthood. It was always through God that Aaron and his Son's were able to bear fruit in service of God in the tent of meeting, through God's grace they were chosen and pruned by God. The men of Korah were consumed by fire, Aaron's Sons who offered unauthorized incense were consumed by fire... you can't get more pruned than that.

Now this is the same warning that Christ gave in John 15 to the Apostles, if you do not abide in Christ, you are pruned and case into the fire.

John 15:3–6 (ESV)

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

The exact same fate that the men of Korah, and Aaron's disobedient Sons had met. This time, it will be in the day of judgment though, perhaps some are brought there sooner by the Lord if they are particularly wicked, as was the case for Korah and his rebellion.

The Test was to Dispel Doubt

In order for the rest of Israel to understand, Moses did not exalt himself over everyone — and that God had chosen Moses and Aaron — God devised the test of the staves so that if their staff could grow buds, then God has chosen them to lead, but only Aaron's staff buds. Their doubt signifies their lack of faith in what God has already done for them, they probably witnessed all the signs and wonders of Egypt, including parting of the Red Sea, and still they grumble against God and against Moses as if he was not chosen to lead.

Numbers 16:3 (ESV)

3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

The assembly grumbles against the Lord, by grumbling against Moses. God answers by performing miracles to clear the doubt.

The Pharisees grumble against the Lord, by grumbling against the Apostles. God answers by performing miracles to clear the doubt.

Acts 4:13–20 (ESV)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Again later, the Pharisees grumble against the Apostles, and it's only by the wisdom of one Pharisee that we can see that only some understood this premise that God will cause growth from the vine He chooses, and destroy the ones who are not from Him.

Acts 5:34–39 (ESV)

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

The Same type of problem, the same pattern, the same purpose. A budding staff signifying a chosen priesthood, a chosen group of Apostles performing miracles that are undeniable even by the Pharisees signifies the change in priesthood. Did any of those Pharisees's have a successful ministry leading to Billions of people coming to The Father and the Son Jesus Christ like the Apostles did? Absolutely not, it was the true vine, the followers of Jesus Christ, that The Father prunes, that ended up growing into a giant tree for all the birds of the earth to nest in.

This is exactly the nature of what Christ says in the midst of some of His parables in Matthew 13

Matthew 13:31–33 (ESV)

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

The growth of the Kingdom of God comes from above, and we are pruned to bear good fruit by our Heavenly Father when we abide in the Son of God. Those favored mustard seeds of faith become a giant tree that shelters all manners of life.

What does Acts continue with after that? It gives a brief account but it says:

Acts 6:7 (ESV)

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

There was always growth, because they abided in Christ! There is a beautiful fulfillment of John 15's teaching found in Acts with the Apostles going from scared mustard seeds, to a GIANT tree, that we shelter in, grown by our great God!

The Tabernacle Connections

In the first study, I covered how it was actually Jesus that gave the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In the second it was Jesus as the Passover Lamb, and the bread of life. This all connects to the tabernacle in a beautiful way. Jesus said he was the Manna from heaven, He Gave the Law, and He's the True Vine (the budding staff), all of which were in the Holy of Holies ("Most Holy Place"), before or in the ark of the covenant.

I believe that because Christ is The Temple, that the Ark would follow Him where He went, because the Ark contains the mercy seat where the presence of God would have sat. Christ, being God in human flesh, must have contained the presence of God and one could argue His claims of being "the bread of life" (John 6:35-40) and being the true vine that helps us bear fruit (John 15) also points to this clearly.

Christ fulfilled the commandment tablets as the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1-7), He is the True "Manna" from Heaven, He is the real budding staff (true vine) that were all stored inside or near the last Ark of the old covenant to the Israelites. These all directly point to Christ as the new Ark. The men who assembled against Moses were swallowed alive into Sheol (Numbers 16:30-34); The 250 priests who tried to claim the priesthood from Aaron were burned as incense (Numbers 16:35-40), just as the branches who do not bear fruit from the true vine — the priesthood of Jesus Christ — are pruned and cast into the fire.

If you would like to read more about this subject, please read the second half of my Baptism in the Old Testament article. There I discuss the implications of Christ being the New Ark of the Covenant also.

To close out the main portion of today's study, I want to read the first part of Hebrews 9:1-5, and I would like you to finish it later on your own time, this will really seal the understanding in your head, Hebrews connects to the Torah so heavily here that I'd be remiss for not bringing it up.

Hebrews 9:1–28 (ESV)

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

"Speed" Round

I could spend ages writing about Jesus in the Torah, there are numerous instances where He makes an appearance, or there is clear plurality at work. As such, this is not an exhaustive list of instances, rather it's a shorter curated list with New Testament mentions.

Water from the Rock

Now it's easy to get confused on this one, because at first it seems like a conflict, but there were actually two separate instances where Moses was instructed on how to bring water forth from the Rock.

The first time is in Exodus 17:1-7

Exodus 17:1–7 (ESV)

Water from the Rock

17 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Moses brings the people before the Lord at Horeb, where while God is standing on the Rock, Moses is instructed to strike the rock and water will come out of it. When he does it, it happens exactly as the Lord had said, and the People's conclusion is fascinating to me: "Is the LORD among us or not?"

They tested God, and He answered by revealing himself, and providing abundant water for Israel.

Now keep this in mind, (that God was here the first time standing on the rock, when it was struck)

This entire event is a prefiguration of the Crucifixion, and Paul even alludes to it in his first letter to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 10:1–5 (ESV)

Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now it's funny that Paul should add that last verse, because even Moses failed this test, despite being saved by the grace of God.

The second instance is where Moses failed, this one happens later in the wandering of Israel, and this time the instructions were different.

Numbers 20:2–13 (ESV)

The Waters of Meribah

2 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

Moses Strikes the Rock

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.

One quick note: The Staff here, is probably Aaron's staff that budded. Since vs 9 mentions "Moses took the staff from before the Lord". That ties into John 15 as Moses is only given the power to do anything by God, and by abiding in that true vine.

This time, the Lord is not standing on the Rock, and Moses not only disobeyed the Lord who told him to speak to the Rock, but he also tried to claim the glory for himself. God's judgment was that Moses would not be the one to bring Israel into the promised land. Now I said earlier this prefigures the crucifixion, and I would like to spend the time to go deeper into this, but for the sake of time I'll be brief:

The First striking of The Rock was the crucifixion, and out of that event, the Holy Spirit was given to us (the Living Water in John 4:1-15). After that event, did Jesus ask us to crucify Himself over and over to give every believer the Holy Spirit? No, In Luke 11:13 Jesus says:

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

We need to ask God for Him, and most believers do that through their confession of faith and subsequent baptism (1 Peter 3:18-21). You appeal to Jesus to send you a clean conscious, and He and the Father send the Holy Spirit to make their home with you. (John 16)

These events are very similar here, we have The Rock being struck for our water, and then we need only ask the Rock for more water, not striking it again. This ties back into Hebrews 9:23-28 where the Author there makes it clear that Jesus does not have to offer himself constantly for sins. In the same way, God instructed Moses to just speak to the Rock in order to have water come, because he had already struck it the first time, and his disobedience and seeking the Glory that was due to The Rock, that is Jesus Christ.

And the Holy Spirit speaking through Moses (as do the other prophets) in his Poems mentions how God is the Rock of their salvation, fitting (Deuteronomy 32:28-39)

The Bronze Serpent

Numbers 21:4–9 (ESV)

The Bronze Serpent

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Jesus makes a direct callback to this event in the Gospel of John

John 3:9–15 (ESV)

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

The Burning Bush

When Moses had fled Egypt after murdering an Egyptian for mistreating an Israelite, God called him from out of a Burning Bush. The Scripture that recounts this, refers to the presence in the bush as the Angel of the Lord, and when Moses approaches, the Angel says that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now obviously it's easy to dismiss this as just being a message from God, but the OT prophets often ascribe the deeds to a separate personal being who is God also. Pay close attention also, It's the Angel who reveals to Moses the name of God to be used for all generations.

Exodus 3:1–15 (ESV)

The Burning Bush

3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your 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 at God.

7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Now that's cool and all, but some Jews would explain this as God making an appearance in his creation in a way that Moses could understand. I'm gonna counter and say that every time that God does that, It's Jesus because Jesus is the only way God reveals himself in creation.

John 14:6–7 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Now don't just take my interpretation as fact, let's see what the disciples thought about this

Acts 7:30–39 (ESV)

30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,

Stephen is treating the Angel as His own person. "God sent Moses by the hand of the Angel", "the Angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai" which we already covered in the first article about this topic. Jesus is this Angel, and Stephen believes that, how else could he attribute deeds to this Angel that the OT says God did? Beautifully, Stephen gives this testimony, and the Pharisees decide he deserves to be stoned for it. As he's slumping over, breathing his last, he asks Jesus to receive his spirit. Lord have Mercy on us all, and give us the strength to call out to you also when we are being stoned, spiritually and sometimes physically, for our testimony.