Burning Bush

Burning Bush: Hidden in the valley between the mountain peaks of Lawz (Horeb) and Maqla (Sinai) is a huge cedar tree, adorned with 7 major branches. It is strategically located in a place where Moses would have grazed flocks and turned aside to see. “Moses came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and the bush was not consumed.” Ex 3: 1-2

It was March 1993 when we first discovered an extraordinary sight as we hiked between Jebel Maqla and Jebel Lawz. A massive cedar tree appeared up above us and we had to turn aside to climb up higher and see it. Two other smaller cedars were in the vicinity, all seemingly connected by exposed roots attached to the largest one. Seven enormous branches are apparent, and as the trunk at the base is more than eight feet across, it is obviously ancient. The landscape is so barren, it was quite unexpected to find these here in a high pasture on the backside of the desert. We wonder if this ages-old cedar could be the burning bush Moses witnessed.