3 One time Mosheh (Moses) was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Yitro (Jethro) (or Yitro, the priest at Midyan), and he led the flock beyond the wilderness and came to a hill. (This was later known as the mountain of God at Horev). 2 While he was there. Yahweh’s messenger appeared to him in a flame coming from the middle of a bush, and as Mosheh looked, to his surprise he saw that the bush was burning in the fire yet not actually being burnt up.[ref] 3 “I’ve got to go and see this amazing sight,” Mosheh said to himself. “How come that bush isn’t burning up?”

4 When Yahweh saw that he’d left his path in order to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Mosheh, Mosheh.”

“I’m here,” he replied.

5 “Don’t come any closer,” Yahweh said. “Take off your sandals because the place where you’re standing is HOLY ground. 6 I’m the god of your father and the god of Avraham, Yitshak (Isaac), and Ya’akov (Jacob).” So Mosheh covered hid his face because he was scared to look at God.

7 “I’ve certainly noticed the suffering of my people in Mitsrayim (Egypt),” Yahweh continued, “I’ve heard their cries as the slave drivers oppress them—I’m unmistakingly aware of their pain. 8 So I’ve come down to set them free from Mitsri (Egyptian) control and to bring them up from there to a good and wide land—a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s currently the place of the Kena’anim (Canaanites), the Hitim, the Amorim, the Perizim, the Hivim, and the Yevusim. 9 Yes, the cry of the Israelis has now reached me and what’s more, I’ve seen how much the Mitsrim (Egyptians) are oppressing them. 10 So go now and I’ll send you to Par’oh (Pharaoh) and bring my people—Yisrael’s (Israel) descendants—out from Mitsrayim.”

11 “Who am I, that I should go to Par’oh,” Mosheh asked God, “and that I should be the one to bring out the Israelis out from Mitsrayim?”

12 “I’ll certainly be with you,” God replied, “and this will be your sign so that you’ll know that I have sent you: when you bring the people out from Mitsrayim, you all will serve God on this very hill.”

13 “But listen,” Mosheh told God, “If I’m about to go to the Israelis and if I told them, ‘Your ancestors’ god has sent me to you.’ then they’d ask me, ‘Oh yeah, what’s his name?’ then what would I tell them?”[ref]

14 “I AM WHO I AM,” God told Mosheh. “You’ll tell them this: ‘I AM (Yahweh) sent me to you.’ ”[ref] 15 Then he continued, “This is what you need to tell the Israelis: ‘Yahweh, the god of your ancestors, the god of Avraham, Yitshak (Isaac), and Ya’akov (Jacob), sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial throughout the generations.’ 16 Go and gather the Israeli elders, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the god of your ancestors, appeared to me, the god of Avraham, Yitshak, and Ya’akov, to say, “I’ve certainly noticed you all and how you’re all being treated in Mitsrayim, 17 and I’ve promised to take you all from your mistreatment in Mitsrayim, away to the land where the Kena’anim (Canaanites), Hitim, Amorim, Perizim, Hivim, and the Yevusim are currently living—to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

18 Then the people will listen to what you tell them, and you and the Israeli elders will go to the Mitsri (Egyptian) king and you’ll all tell him, ‘Yahweh, the god of the Ivrim (Hebrews), has met with us. So now, please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so we can sacrifice to Yahweh, our god.’ 19 But I know that the Mitsri king won’t let you go until he’s forced to. 20 So I will use force and I’ll strike Mitsrayim with several supernatural acts, and after those, he’ll let you all go.

21 Then I’ll make the Mitsri people favour you all in such a way that when you go, you won’t leave empty-handed.[ref] 22 For example, an Israeli woman will ask her Mitsri neighbour (or from someone staying where she lives) for gold and silver items and for clothing. Then you’ll put them on your sons and daughters, and in this way you’ll all plunder the Mitsrim (Egyptians).”