In a car engine, thousands of small explosions happen every minute to produce motion. Each of those explosions creates hot gases that must be removed before the next one can occur. The exhaust manifold is the first component that handles this job. It is a thick metal part bolted directly to the engine that collects the hot gases from each cylinder and channels them into a single path leading out of the engine. Because it sits so close to the combustion process and carries extremely hot gases, the exhaust manifold operates under intense heat every time the engine runs, quietly enduring conditions that most other parts of the car never experience.

In everyday cars, the exhaust manifold is deliberately kept out of sight. It is usually buried deep in the engine bay and wrapped in heat shields and insulation to protect nearby components and to keep heat, noise, and vibration under control. Drivers are not meant to see it, and under normal conditions they never do. In motorsports and high-performance settings, those priorities change. Heat shielding is often reduced or removed to save weight and improve access, and engines are pushed under sustained load. In low-light conditions, the exposed manifold can become hot enough to glow red, visibly radiating energy while remaining structurally intact, a striking but controlled consequence of operating at the edge of the system’s design limits.

The burning bush that Moses encounters in this week’s Torah reading functions in much the same way. Fire is present, intense and unmistakable, yet the structure holding it is not destroyed.

The Book of Exodus (in Hebrew called Shemot, literally, “names,”) starts with the portion that carries the same title, Shemot, (Exodus Chapters 1-6).

Shemot opens by listing the sons of Jacob who came to Egypt. The Israelites multiply and become numerous, filling the land. A new king, the Pharaoh, arises over Egypt who “does not know Joseph,” however that might be interpreted. Pharaoh views the Israelites as a threat and enslaves them, imposing harsh labor and forcing them to build cities for him. Despite the oppression, the Israelites continue to increase.

Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives, Shifra and Puah, to kill the male infants at birth. They do not do so, fearing God. When questioned, they explain that the Hebrew women give birth before the midwives arrive. Pharaoh then commands all his people to cast every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile.

A Levite woman gives birth to a son and hides him for three months. When she can no longer hide him, she places him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile, and his sister watches from a distance. Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the child, recognizes that he is a Hebrew baby, and spares his life. The child’s mother is brought to nurse him, and when he grows older, he is taken to Pharaoh’s daughter, who names him Moshe (or Moses in English).

Moshe grows up and goes out to his brothers, seeing their suffering. He sees an Egyptian striking a Hebrew and kills the Egyptian, hiding him in the sand. The next day, he sees two Hebrews fighting and attempts to intervene but is rejected. When Pharaoh hears of the killing, he seeks to kill Moshe, and Moshe flees to Midian.

In Midian, Moshe arrives at a well and defends the daughters of Yitro from shepherds. He is brought to Yitro’s house, marries his daughter, Tzipporah, and becomes a shepherd. During this time, the king of Egypt dies, and the Israelites groan under their labor. Their cry rises to God, and God hears and remembers the covenant with the patriarchs.

While tending the flock near Mount Horeb, Moshe sees a bush burning with fire but not consumed. Moshe is intrigued and approaches the unnatural phenomena. God calls to him from the bush and identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God commands Moshe to return to Egypt and bring the Israelites out. Moshe raises objections, questioning his suitability and his ability to speak. God reveals His name, demonstrates signs, including turning his staff into a serpent and causing Moshe’s arm to become suddenly splotchy and then is quickly healed. After Moshe’s continued resistance to the mission, with some anger, God appoints Moshe’s brother Aaron to speak on Moshe’s behalf.

Moshe returns to Egypt and meets Aaron. They gather with the elders of Israel. Moshe and Aaron then go to Pharaoh and request permission for the people to go into the wilderness to worship God. Pharaoh refuses and increases the labor, ordering that straw no longer be provided while the same quota of bricks must be produced.

The Israelite foremen are beaten, and the people complain to Moshe and Aaron. Moshe turns to God and asks why the mission has brought greater suffering. God responds by declaring that Pharaoh will ultimately be compelled to release the Israelites through mighty acts as we will see in the dramatic weeks to come.