"Of Burning Bushes and the IDF"

"And the Angel of Hashem appeared to Moshe in th flame of fire that was burning the Bush; and he saw that the bush was not being consumed by the fire."
[Parshas Shemos 3:2]

Rashi points out that the burning bush was a burning bush. G-d appeared to Moshe from a burning bush. If I were writing the Torah I would have had G-d appear from a burning Sequoya or a burning Cyprus tree.

Why a measly little bush?

Chizkuni explains that metaphorically speaking, the bush encircled by fire is representative of the Jewish people who were within the land of Egypt, enslaved by the Egyptian people. But they were not consumed by the flame of the enemy.

Alternatively, Sforno says the angel of Hashem represents the tzadikim, the righteous Jews, encircled by the bush, namely, the wicked Egyptians. The bush was burning. The Egyptians will suffer through ten plagues. The Righteous Jews will be unaffected by the fire of the plagues. They will not be consumed.

Hashem appears in a bush, for when His people are suffering, he cries with us. He "lowers" His own "Self" to join us here on Earth. He meets us here.

I pray that the righteous Jews of today, encircled by the flame that is the Arab countries, not be consumed.

Maaseh Avos Siman Libanim