Moses and the Burning Bush
Study note
Moses had been living in Midian for about forty years, working as a shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro. One day he led his flock to Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai. There he saw an amazing sight: a bush that was on fire but did not burn up. When Moses went closer to look, God called out to him from inside the bush. God told Moses to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. Then God introduced Himself as the same God who had spoken to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
1 Moses was out in the wilderness watching over the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far out to the other side of the desert. He came to Horeb, which people called the mountain of God. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2 There an angel of the Lord showed himself to Moses in a blaze of fire rising from inside a bush. Moses stared — the bush was completely wrapped in flames, yet it was not being destroyed. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 "This is incredible," Moses said to himself. "I have to go get a closer look. How can that bush be on fire without burning up?" And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 When the Lord noticed Moses walking over to investigate, God called out to him from inside the burning bush: "Moses! Moses!" "I am right here," Moses answered. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 "Stop where you are," God said. "Take your sandals off. You are standing on ground that is holy." And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6 Then God told him, "I am the God your father worshiped — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was terrified to look at God. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
God Sends Moses to Free Israel
Study note
God told Moses that He had seen the suffering of His people in Egypt and heard their cries. He said He was going to rescue them and bring them to a good land flowing with milk and honey, which meant a land full of food and blessings. The land was Canaan, already occupied by several other nations. Then God gave Moses the most important command of his life: Go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses felt completely unqualified and asked, 'Who am I to do this?' God simply answered, 'I will be with you.'
7 The Lord continued, "I have watched how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt. I have heard every cry they have made because of their harsh slave masters. I am fully aware of how much they are suffering." And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8 And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good land and a large, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9 "The cries of the Israelites have come right to me. I have also seen firsthand how the Egyptians are crushing them." Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10 "So here is what I want you to do: go. I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11 Moses protested, "Me? Who am I to go stand before Pharaoh? How could I possibly lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12 And he said, Certainly I will be with you; and this shall be a token to you, that I have sent you: When you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
God Reveals His Name
Study note
Moses asked God what name he should give the people when they asked who sent him. God answered with the famous words, 'I AM WHO I AM.' In Hebrew, this name is closely related to the word 'Yahweh,' which means 'He is' or 'He exists.' This name told the Israelites that God is eternal, self-existing, and always present. God also called Himself 'the LORD God of your fathers,' connecting His identity to the promises He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
13 Moses pressed further: "All right, say I go to the Israelites and announce, 'The God of your ancestors sent me to you.' They are going to ask, 'What is this God's name?' What am I supposed to say?" And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM." And he said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15 God went on: "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord — the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you.' This is my name from now on. This is how every generation will know me." And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
God's Plan for the Exodus
Study note
God told Moses to gather the elders of Israel and tell them what was about to happen. Then Moses and the elders should go to Pharaoh and ask for permission to travel three days into the wilderness to worship. God already knew Pharaoh would refuse, so He planned to strike Egypt with amazing signs and wonders until Pharaoh let them go. God also promised that when the Israelites finally left, the Egyptian people would give them silver, gold, and clothing, so they would not leave empty-handed.
16 "Go gather the leaders of Israel together and tell them, 'The Lord, the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — came to me. He told me: I have been paying close attention to you. I have seen everything that is being done to you in Egypt.'" Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17 "Tell them he said, 'I have made a promise to rescue you from your misery in Egypt. I will take you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites — a land overflowing with good things.'" And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
18 "The leaders of Israel will believe you. After that, you and the leaders must go to the king of Egypt together and say, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has come to meet with us. We are asking you to allow us to travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.'" And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
19 "Now I already know that the king of Egypt will refuse to let you go. Nothing short of an overwhelming show of power will change his mind." And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20 "So I will strike Egypt with one incredible miracle after another. After all of that, he will finally let you leave." And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
21 "I will also cause the Egyptians to be generous toward my people. When you finally leave, you will not go away with nothing." And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
22 "Every Israelite woman should go to her Egyptian neighbor and ask for jewelry made of silver and gold, and for fine clothing. You will dress your sons and daughters in these things. In this way, you will carry away the wealth of Egypt." But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.