Original Research

The Burning Bush (Ex 3:1–6): A study of natural phenomena as manifestation of divine presence in the Old Testament and in African context

David T. Adamo
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 73, No 3 | a4576 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4576 | © 2017 David T. Adamo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 March 2017 | Published: 20 November 2017

About the author(s)

David T. Adamo, Department of Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, University of South Africa, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to attempt to sketch a new reading of Exodus 3:1–6 in African context. After the analysis of the text and various interpretations of the burning bush, this article attempts to survey the various uses of the word fire/lightning/thunder in the Old Testament and in African indigenous religious tradition (Yoruba tradition). In this case, the legends of Sango, the Yoruba Divinity, are important examples of interpreting the existence of fire/lightning/thunder as a sign of God’s presence. Although the meaning of fire/lightning/thunder in the Old Testament and African traditions is very similar, the author does not subscribe to the notion that African Christianity and African traditional religion are the same. However, the similarity has some important implications for African Christianity despite the differences.

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