Exodus 3:1-12 ▼

1 Moses was taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. As he led the sheep to the far side of the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2 The Messenger of the LORD appeared to him there as flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses looked, and although the bush was on fire, it was not burning up.

3 So he thought, |Why isn't this bush burning up? I must go over there and see this strange sight.|

4 When the LORD saw that Moses had come over to see it, God called to him from the bush, |Moses, Moses!| Moses answered, |Here I am!|

5 God said, |Don't come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy ground.

6 I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.| Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The LORD said, |I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of the slave drivers. I know how much they're suffering.

8 I have come to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good land with plenty of room [for everyone]. It is a land flowing with milk and honey where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live.

9 I have heard the cry of the people of Israel. I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them.

10 Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you can bring my people Israel out of Egypt.|

11 But Moses said to God, |Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?|

12 God answered, |I will be with you. And this will be the proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.|