Exodus 3

God sends Moses to speak to the king of Egypt

God speaks to Moses

1One day, Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and Moses decided to lead them across the desert to Sinai, the holy mountain.[#3.1 : The Hebrew text has “Horeb”, another name for Sinai.]

2There an angel of the LORD appeared to him from a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up.[#Ac 7.30-34.]

3“This is strange!” he said to himself. “I'll go over and see why the bush isn't burning up.”

4When the LORD saw Moses coming near the bush, he called him by name, and Moses answered, “Here I am.”

5God replied, “Don't come any closer. Take off your sandals—the ground where you are standing is holy.

6I am the God who was worshipped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Moses was afraid to look at God, and so he hid his face.

7The LORD said:

11But Moses said, “Who am I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt?”

12God replied, “I will be with you. And you will know that I am the one who sent you, when you worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt.”[#3.12 : Or “I will be with you. This bush is a sign that I am the one sending you, and it is a promise that you will worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt.”]

13Moses answered, “I will tell the people of Israel that the God their ancestors worshipped has sent me to them. But what should I say, if they ask me your name?”[#Ex 6.2,3.]

14-15God said to Moses:[#Rev 1.4,8.]

© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
Published by: British & Foreign Bible Society