Non-biblical literalist Christan and Jews, symbolism of the burning bush? What's the idea?

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's answer to this is in "Meditation and the Bible" in the chapter on "Verbal Archeology" for words indicating prophetic methods. Just happened to read it last night. The deep mystical state one would be in to hear from God is a play on words with tree or bush. Both words are "siyach" or derivatives and mean "float" or "float to another level to communicate" or "tree".

God first spoke with Moses in a Burning Bush (sneh). The Midrash relates this to the idea of trees in general, and to a meditative states. שיח is a base which means floating or rising. It is related to שא which means elevation and is part of the word "Nasa", which means to elevate. The term siyach, containing the same root., is translated as "tree" or "bush". But, it isn't only a bush. In the Talmud Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was spoken of as an expert in the "Sichah of ministering angels...going on to say he was also expert in the "Workings of the Chariot" (Maaseh Merkava) which involves the deepest mystical states. At first blush, this sounds like he was an expert in the trees of ministering angels. Rabbi Nathan ben Yechiel (1035-1106) a noted lexicographer, explained this relationship between siyach meditation and tree saying that Rabbi Yochanan knew how to commune with these spiritual beings, indicating he knew how to "float" or "climb" and ascend to their realm. Another example, the Zohar clearly states this type of Sichah involves communion with the Divine Presence (Shekkinah). References of siyach meaning trees: "Every tree (Siyach) of the field had not yet existed on the earth"(Genesis 2:5). Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch states that in both cases where siyach refers to floating or thought, or tree, all refer to growth or elevation. So, siyach has the connotation of upward motion as does the concept of floating. The relationship is further carried out in the Kabbalistic litureature where rising to the higher spiritual realms is known as climbing or ascending the "Tree of Life". the biblical precendent for this is alluded to in a reference to the Cherubs who "guard the path of the Tree of Life" (Genesis 3:24). Proverbs calls Wisdom a Tree of Life to those who hold fast to it (Proverbs 3:18).

So a burning bush is a euphemism for a deep meditative state where Moses was elevated to the level to hear from God. Fire figures in a number of other encounters with the Divine, such as Ezekiel's fiery vision of the Mervah, and the throne of God.

Probably to show Moses that anything is possible. If a bush can burn but come out unscathed who's to say Moses couldn't lead his people out of Egypt? Haha, and by the way, it's a historical story, TRUE. :) You kinda have to take things in the Bibel literally, if it says there's a burnig bush it really IS a burning bush, lol. A lot of the things in it sound crazy but why wouldn't those things happen? The earth in itself is like a total miracle, I seriously doubt something so complex and balanced could just happen because of dust exploding is space! Big Bang is kinda a dumb theory, no real evidence to back it up.

burning bush symbolize God speaking through moses, the story of Moses is a story of freedom and how a nation accepts God again after they forgot God, God leads the people to the freedom and a better place and that's we want us today.

i might circulate with A, B and E whilst not ruling out C outright. whilst many Biblical literalists are undereducated approximately psychological ailment, it extremely is not at all real of all. it extremely is suitable to wish for every physique who's ill, whether the ailment impacts the innovations, the spirit, the physique or all the above. We must even have self belief that Christ is adequate for all of our desires. Demon possession is a actual phenomenon, yet psychological ailment would not unavoidably advise demon possession or demonic interference. psychological ailment is regularly speaking the end results of chemical imbalances interior the innovations. in specific situations those imbalances are genetic, different cases they're the end results of tangible or psychological trauma, and in specific situations the motives are inexplicable. Demons ought to not extra be the estimated reason for psychological ailment than they're the estimated reason for diabetes, that's additionally the end results of chemical imbalance stemming from the pancreas. even nevertheless, as Christians we do guard that situations of demon possession do exist. If different motives / remedies of psychological imbalance have been exhausted, and signs and indications of demon possessions do exist, that's not incorrect to aim exorcism. Exorcism ought to not at all be bodily or spiritually abusive and could be observed by means of persevering with religious and psychological counseling centers.

I think that historically the image of the bush may been part of the transition from concrete deities/idols to Judaism's abstract, non-corporeal god. Nowadays, the idea of not having a physical focus for prayer is taken for granted but it was a pretty radical concept back then.

But one of Judaism's many strengths is our refusal to allow it to be limited to narrow interpretations. Like all good poetry, the image of the burning bush is striking, engaging and open to many meanings. Those will change with us as our sense of our relationship with the divine changes.

That single images holds truths as intimate as knowing we're always able to interact in some way with the divine, even in the middle of a desert that seems barren, and as grand as the primordial, constructive/destructive nature of fire.

It symbolizes that God is the Light of the world and is beyond natural law. The bush did not burn.

Burning buss symbolizes learning, the ardent desire to obey, especially the law or commandments of God so that they will do well Israelite in the dessert to Canaan to have long and abundant life.

The bush burned but it was not consumed. This shows the power of God.

There is controversy over what the Hebrew word translated as "bush" or "brambles" really means because it only appears twice. There was also a scholar in Jerusalem who opined that the whole scene was due to Moses consuming a hallucinogenic plant.

Burning bushes symbolize acid trips in the desert