6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
The Lord begins his relationship with Moses by defining the relationship. He does this in the first place by connecting with people from Moses’ past. God wants Moses to know that He is the same God who was in relationship with previous generations of his family. I am sure Moses heard the accounts of what the Lord had done in and through these men. This gave some context from which Moses could understand what the Lord was calling him to do. With the Lord the most important aspect deals with relationship. God is a God of relationship. He is not distant or removed from us. He is very much in touch with us and involved with us. He is also a God who expects us to respond. Sometimes those responses are very costly to us. Remember Abraham being called upon to kill his own son! Moses must realize at that moment that God is going to ask a lot from him. He realizes His power. He realizes His holiness. That is why he covers his face. He is overcome with fear. Remember, he has murdered an Egyptian man. He has run from his family and fellow Israelites, leaving them to face the horrors of servitude alone. No wonder he is hiding. He might realize that murder deserves punishment and he is now waiting for his to arrive. We don’t know everything that is going on in Moses’ mind and spirit, but we do know he is afraid. He is standing in the desert alone. He is standing before a bush that has flames but doesn’t burn. He is having a conversation with a voice, but no body to go with that voice. And the voice tells him he knows his ancestors. And that He is the God who worked in their lives. I think I would be afraid as well.
The Arnold Journey 