UST by section EXO 3:1

⌂ ← EXO 3:1–3:22 → ║ ©

The Book of Exodus 3

3 Moses, on the other hand, was taking care of the sheep that belonged to Jethro (his father-in-law who was a priest to the Midianite people.) One day, he took the flock to the far side of the wildland. He came to a mountain where God would reveal himself to Moses and later to the Israelites called Horeb. 2 While he was there, Yahweh’s messenger appeared to Moses as a fire inside a bush. Moses stared at the burning bush, amazed that the fire was not burning it completely to ashes. 3 He thought, “I will go closer to see this strange thing! Why is the bush not burning up?”

4 When Yahweh saw Moses coming for a closer look, he called out from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

“Yes!” Moses replied.

5 Yahweh said, “Take off your sandals to honor me before you come any closer, because you are standing on ground that is sacred because it is near me. 6 I am God, the one that your father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all worshiped.” Moses was afraid that God would kill him if he looked at him, so he covered his face. 7 Then Yahweh said, “I have watched closely how badly the Egyptians are treating my people in Egypt. I have heard my people shouting despairingly because of what the slave drivers are making them do. I am most certainly informed about how my people are suffering. 8 I am coming down from heaven to rescue them from being slaves to the Egyptians. I will lead them from Egypt to a fertile land with plenty of room. It will be very good for raising livestock and growing crops. The peoples called the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live there now. 9 Truly, I have now heard the Israelites crying. I have also seen how badly the Egyptians treat them. 10 So now I will send you to do this: Go to the king of Egypt and lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses said to God, “I am not important enough to go to the king in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.”

12 God said, “Even so, you can trust that I will be with you. When you bring my people out of Egypt, all of you will worship me right here on this mountain. That will prove to you that I am the one who sent you to them.”

13 Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God whom your ancestors worshiped has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I say to them?”

14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Tell the Israelites that the God whose name means ‘I AM’ sent you to them.” 15 God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh has sent me to you. He is the God Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and your other ancestors worshiped. Yahweh is my eternal name, and this is the name by which people living at any time must remember me.’

16 Go call a meeting with all the Israelite leaders. Tell them, ‘Yahweh appeared to me. He is the God Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and your other ancestors worshiped. He said: “I have come down to carefully watch and do something about what the Egyptians are doing to you. 17 I promise that I will rescue you from the Egyptians who treat you badly. I will take you to the land where the peoples called the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live now. The land is excellent for raising livestock and growing crops.”’ 18 The leaders will do what you say.

Then you and the leaders will go to the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, ‘Yahweh, the God whom we Hebrews worship, has made a special visit to us. Please allow us to travel for a few days to a place in the wilderness in order that there we may offer sacrifices to Yahweh, the God we worship.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go; not even by force. 20 So I will act very powerfully, and I will hurt the Egyptians with very bad things that only I can do. Then he will chase you away.

21 When this happens, I will cause the Egyptians to be willing to help you Hebrews so that, when you leave Egypt, you will not go out like poor slaves. 22 At that time, each Hebrew woman will ask the women living or visiting nearby for things made from silver and gold and for clothing. You will be able to have your children wear the things they give you. That is how you will take everything from the Egyptians.”

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