Gregory of Nyssa : It is upon us who continue in this quiet and peaceful course of life that the truth will shine, illuminating the eyes of our soul with its own rays. This truth, which was then manifested by the ineffable and mysterious illumination that came to Moses, is God. And if the flame by which the soul of the prophet was illuminated was kindled from a thorny bush, even this fact will not be useless for our inquiry. For if truth is God and truth is light … such guidance of virtue leads us to know that light that has reached down even to human nature.… From this we learn also the mystery of the Virgin: The light of divinity which through birth shone from her into human life did not consume the burning bush, even as the flower of her virginity was not withered by giving birth. That light teaches us what we must do to stand within the rays of the true light: Sandaled feet cannot ascend that height where the light of truth is seen, but the dead and earthly covering skins, which was placed around our nature at the beginning when we were found naked because of disobedience to the divine will, must be removed from the feet of the soul. When we do this, the knowledge of the truth will result and manifest itself. The full knowledge of being comes about by purifying our opinion concerning nonbeing. — LIFE OF MOSES 2.19-22 Oecumenius : Even if the voice as worded in Exodus does not appear to be exactly the same, nevertheless it is equivalent. For the one who trembles is not far from becoming fearful. These things are said about the vision of the bush, the same distinction between the fearful and the trembling remaining, and in the account concerning Mount Sinai. For Moses said there: "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling," (Heb. 12:21) using parallel words. Therefore the blessed Moses, having set down the vision, then added perhaps saying to himself, "I will go over and see this great sight, why does the bush not burn up?" (Ex. 3:3) but the Lord immediately forbids him, "Do not come near here." (Ex. 3:5) And he commands him to remove the shoe from his sandal. Behold, he whom the angel spoke of earlier now shows him to be Lord and God. For he is the angel of the great counsel (Isa. 9:6 LXX) and Son of God. — Commentary on Acts Oecumenius : What then is the riddle signified by the sandal? It is necessary to say that the sandal is a sign of death and corruption. For every sandal is a remnant of an animal already dead. Therefore the mind attempting to ascend to the divine contemplations must cast off every dead and fleshly imagination like some pair of sandals, and understand the mystery according to Christ. Christ is therefore inaccessible under the law and the instructional worship (for Moses is the face of the law), unless perhaps they had first cleansed the defilement from sin and repelled the worship that is still in types and shadows. But if they were willing to be freed from the sandal already indicated, they would then draw near to Christ, approaching the worship in Spirit and in truth. (Jn. 4:24) — Commentary on Acts