As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier that I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 NASB
Moses’ burning bush experience is a foreshadowing of the fire of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16.
The context in Matthew makes it clear that the fire of the Holy Spirit is for burning up the chaff in our lives. Chaff can be equated with lies that we have believed, wrong attitudes, strongholds, and more. After the fire of the Holy Spirit burns up the chaff, we can have the renewed mind mentioned in Romans 12:2.
A renewed mind is focused on the will of God, the promises of God and the purposes of God. Moses was the first example of the fire anointing. God renewed his mind to fulfill His purpose - to deliver the Israelites from bondage.
Once Moses’ mind was renewed, God could trust him with authority and power. God gave him a staff, symbolizing God’s authority. God also gave him power to perform signs and wonders. Moses needed God’s authority and power to carry out God’s calling upon his life. Moses had tried (and failed!) to accomplish the task in his own strength before he fled Egypt (Ex. 2:11-15). God renewed Moses’ mind and equipped him to do the impossible.
Moses burning bush experience is a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit’s fire anointing. Moses had shepherded (pastored) his father-in-law’s flock for 40 years. We may have served God for a long time too. Still, God wants to burn up the chaff in our lives so He can equip us to do the impossible. How will we respond? Will we allow God to purify us and renew us?
God placed a call on Moses’ life that required God’s strength. God commanded him to “go” and lead His people out of bondage. In our case, Jesus has commissioned us to “go” into all the world with His authority and His power to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 16:15-20). Who can be trusted with Jesus’ power and authority? Those who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and FIRE!