The God of thy father. — It is generally agreed that “father” is put collectively here for “forefathers.” (Comp. Genesis 31:42.) Hence St. Stephen, quoting the passage, renders it, “I am the God of thy fathers” (Acts 7:32).
The God of Abraham. — Primarily, no doubt, the meaning was, the God who was worshipped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but the form of the expression, “the God of Abraham,” &c., indicated the continued existence of the patriarchs after death, since He can only be the God of existent, and not of nonexistent things. (See Matthew 22:32.)
Moses hid his face, with the same feeling which made Jacob exclaim, “How dreadful is this place” (Genesis 28:17). Though nothing was to be seen but an appearance as of material fire, the knowledge that God was there rendered the fire awful.