Exodus 3

Moses and the Burning Bush

1 Moses was out in the wilderness, working as a shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He was out there watching the sheep near Mount Horeb, also called the mountain of God.

2 Then, out of nowhere, the angel of the Lord showed up in a blazing fire inside a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up.

3 Moses was like, ‘What is going on, Let me go check this out, how is this bush on fire but not burning up?’

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to look, God called out to him from the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ Moses answered, ‘Here I am.’

5 God said, ‘Hold up! Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off, because you are standing on holy ground.’

6 Then He said, ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses covered his face, because he was too scared to look at God.

God Hears the Cry of His People

7 The Lord said, ‘I have seen what My people in Egypt are going through. I have heard their cries because of their slave masters, and I feel their pain.’

8 ‘I have come down to rescue them from Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.’

9 ‘The cries of the Israelites have reached Me, and I have seen how Egypt is oppressing them.’

10 ‘So now, I am sending you, Moses, to Pharaoh. You are going to lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’

Moses Doubts Himself

11 Moses said, ‘Me, Go to Pharaoh, And lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Who am I to do that,’

12 God said, ‘I will be with you. Here is the proof: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship Me right here on this mountain.’

13 Moses said, ‘Okay, but if I go to the Israelites and say, The God of your ancestors sent me, and they ask, What is His name, what do I tell them,’

14 God said, ‘Tell them My name is I AM WHO I AM. Say to the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.’

15 God continued, ‘Tell them, The Lord, the God of your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sent me to you. This is My name forever, and it is how people will remember Me from generation to generation.’

God Lays Out the Plan

16 ‘Go gather the elders of Israel and tell them, The Lord, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to me. He has seen what is happening to you in Egypt.’

17 ‘And say, God promises to bring you out of Egypt’s misery to the land of milk and honey.’

18 ‘The elders will listen to you. Then you and the elders must go to Pharaoh and say, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day trip into the wilderness to worship Him.’

19 ‘But I know Pharaoh will not let you go easily, he will need some convincing.’

20 ‘So I will flex My power, perform wonders, and hit Egypt hard. After that, Pharaoh will let you go.’

21 ‘I will make sure the Egyptians hook you up on your way out. You will not leave empty-handed.’

22 ‘Every Israelite woman will ask her neighbor for silver, gold, and clothes. You will put them on your sons and daughters and leave Egypt stacked.’