NET Bible Text
3:1 Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb.
3:2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked ”“ and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed!
3:3 So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?”
3:4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
3:5 God said, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
3:6 He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
3:7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
3:8 I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3:9 And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them.
3:10 So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
3:11 Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
3:12 He replied, “Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain.”
3:13 Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ ”“ what should I say to them?”
3:14 God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
3:15 God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘The Lord ”“ the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ”“ has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.’
3:16 “Go and bring together the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, appeared to me ”“ the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ”“ saying, “I have attended carefully to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt,
3:17 and I have promised that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
3:18 “The elders will listen to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’
3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force.
3:20 So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you.
3:21 “I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed.
3:22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters ”“ thus you will plunder Egypt!”
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Simple Summary
God appears to Moses in a burning bush and calls him from holy ground. He says he has seen Israel’s suffering, heard their cry, and come down to rescue them. God sends Moses to Pharaoh and promises to be with him.
What This Passage Means
Moses is keeping sheep in Midian when the Lord appears to him in a bush that burns but is not destroyed. This shows God’s holy presence and power. Moses must stop, remove his sandals, and not come near, because the place is holy ground.
God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses hides his face, because he is afraid to look at God. Then the Lord speaks about Israel’s trouble in Egypt. He has seen their misery, heard their cry, and knows their pain. He has come down to rescue them and bring them into a good and spacious land.
God then sends Moses to Pharaoh to bring Israel out of Egypt. Moses feels unworthy and asks who he is to do such a task. The Lord answers with a promise: “I will be with you.” The sign that God has sent him will be that Israel will worship on this mountain after they come out.
Moses then asks what name he should give to the people. God reveals his name as “I AM WHO I AM” and tells Moses to say that the Lord, the God of the fathers, has sent him. God says this name will be remembered from generation to generation.
God tells Moses to gather the elders of Israel and speak to them first. They will listen. Then Moses and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and ask for leave to make a three-day journey to sacrifice to the Lord. God already knows Pharaoh will refuse. After that, God will strike Egypt with his wonders and bring Israel out. He will also give the people favor with the Egyptians, so they will not leave empty-handed.
Important Truths
- God is holy, and his presence is not common.
- God sees oppression, hears the cry of his people, and knows their suffering.
- Deliverance begins with God’s initiative, not Moses’ strength.
- God’s promise to be with Moses is the answer to Moses’ weakness.
- God reveals his name so his people will know him and trust him.
- The exodus will include both judgment on Egypt and rescue for Israel.
- Israel will leave with favor and wealth, not in defeat.
Warnings, Promises, or Commands
- Warnings: Moses must not come closer. He must not treat holy ground as ordinary. Pharaoh will not let Israel go at first. God will judge Egypt with his wonders.
- Promises: God will be with Moses. Israel will worship on that mountain after they are brought out. God will bring his people into the land promised to the fathers. The people will leave Egypt with favor and with silver, gold, and clothing.
- Commands: Moses must remove his sandals. He must go to Pharaoh. He must gather the elders of Israel and speak God’s words to them. He must ask for leave to sacrifice to the Lord.
How This Fits in God's Plan
This passage stands in the line of God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God who promised the land now acts to bring their descendants out of Egypt and toward that land. It also prepares for Sinai, where the rescued people will worship and receive God’s covenant words.
Simple Application
God still calls his servants to obey him even when they feel weak. His people should come before him with reverence, trust his promises, and remember that he sees suffering and acts at the right time.