Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
Exodus 3 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's deliverance, showcasing God's dramatic intervention in the life of Moses and the destiny of His people. After generations of slavery in Egypt, God initiates His plan for liberation through a remarkable encounter. This chapter, filled with profound theological implications and practical insights, reveals the character of God and His unwavering commitment to His promises. The key to understanding Exodus 3 lies in recognizing it as the starting point of God’s active involvement to free the Israelites from their bondage.
The Burning Bush: A Divine Revelation (Exodus 3:1-5)
Moses, now an eighty-year-old shepherd tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, was far removed from his earlier life in the Egyptian court. He likely believed his destiny was sealed in the quiet solitude of the wilderness. He had spent forty years in Egypt, followed by another forty years in the desert, a consequence of his earlier actions (Exodus 2:11-15). However, God often uses ordinary circumstances to reveal His extraordinary plan.
While leading the flock to Horeb, "the mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1) also known as Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:12; 19:20; Deuteronomy 1:19), Moses encountered a sight that defied explanation: a bush engulfed in flames, yet remaining unconsumed (Exodus 3:2). This was no ordinary fire; it was "the angel of the LORD" appearing in a flame of fire (Exodus 3:2). God often reveals His special presence in the contradictions of life.
Intrigued, Moses approached to investigate. God called to him from the bush, commanding him to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:4-5). This act of removing sandals signified humility and reverence in the presence of the divine. Moses needed to humble himself and be reminded of his humble beginnings. Man was made "out of the dust from the ground" (Genesis 2:7). It was a symbolic acknowledgement of God's holiness and Moses's own unworthiness.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6-10)
God then identified Himself, not as a new or unknown deity, but as "the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). This declaration linked God's present action to His covenant promises made to the patriarchs centuries before. It was a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness and His enduring commitment to His people.
Moses, overwhelmed by the divine presence, hid his face, afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:6). He took God seriously. God revealed that He had indeed seen the suffering of His people in Egypt and heard their cries (Exodus 3:7, 9). God is not unaware of our sufferings. He declared His intention to deliver them from slavery and bring them to "a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). This "Promised Land" was the destination of God's redemptive plan.
To accomplish this great task, God commissioned Moses: "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). This was a radical shift in Moses's life, a call to leadership he neither expected nor felt qualified for. God doesn’t merely determine the ends, He also determines the means.
"Who Am I?": Moses's Objection and God's Assurance (Exodus 3:11-12)
Moses, now a humble man, responded with a question reflecting his sense of inadequacy: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). This was a far cry from the bold and brash man who murdered an Egyptian and expected his fellow Hebrews to look up to him. Instead of self-confidence, Moses now needed God-confidence.
God's answer was not a pep talk, but a promise: "But I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). The assurance of God's presence was the foundation of Moses's calling. God did not tell Moses, “Cheer up and believe in yourself.” Instead he promised him His divine presence. Moreover, God gave Moses a sign: "When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). This promised act of worship on Mount Sinai would be a testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promise. God wasn’t freeing the Israelites so they could sit around and be lazy. He was freeing them so that they could do what they had been created for: He wanted them to worship Him as the one true God. Whenever God delivers you from something, he also delivers you to something—Himself.
"I AM WHO I AM": God's Self-Revelation (Exodus 3:13-15)
Moses, anticipating the skepticism of the Israelites, asked God what name he should use when they inquired who had sent him. God's response is one of the most profound self-revelations in Scripture: "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This statement, translated from the Hebrew Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, signifies God's self-existence, self-sufficiency, and eternal nature. It could also be rendered, “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE” or “I CAUSE TO BE WHAT I CAUSE TO BE.” By describing Himself this way, God was affirming His self-existence and self-sufficiency. He depends on nothing and no one. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all.
God further instructed Moses to tell the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you" (Exodus 3:14). This simple yet profound declaration would resonate with the Israelites, reminding them of God's eternal presence and power.
God then connected this "I AM" to the God of their ancestors: "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" (Exodus 3:15). The name "LORD" is related etymologically to the Hebrew verb. Instead of the first-person singular form (“I AM”), “LORD” represents the third-person singular form (thus, “HE IS”). In Hebrew, it is represented by four consonants without any vowels: YHWH. We don’t know for certain how this was pronounced because the Jews feared pronouncing the sacred name, but it may have been said this way: “Yahweh.” This reinforced the continuity of God's covenant relationship with His people and His unchanging character. Though the world is ever-changing, HE IS.
God's Plan for Deliverance (Exodus 3:16-22)
God outlined the plan for Moses to present to the elders of Israel, informing them of God's intention to deliver them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:16-17). They were then to approach Pharaoh with a request to journey into the wilderness to worship the LORD (Exodus 3:18).
God foretold Pharaoh's resistance, stating that he would not let them go unless compelled by a mighty hand (Exodus 3:19). God would respond with miraculous displays of divine power to compel the king to release Israel (Exodus 3:20). The Lord would also see to it that the Israelites didn’t leave Egypt empty-handed (Exodus 3:21). God promised to judge Egypt and perform signs, which would later manifest as the ten plagues (Exodus 7-12). Furthermore, God assured Moses that the Israelites would not leave empty-handed but would plunder the Egyptians, receiving silver, gold, and clothing (Exodus 3:21-22). In a sense, they would receive the back wages they deserved.
Thus, Moses and the Israelites were to act in faith, trusting that the self-sufficient God who had revealed himself to them would be everything they could ever need. He is all we need too.
Exodus 3 reveals a God who is both transcendent and immanent, both holy and compassionate. He is the eternal "I AM," the self-existent God who is faithful to His covenant promises. He sees the suffering of His people, hears their cries, and intervenes to deliver them. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that God is actively involved in the lives of His people and that He equips them for the tasks He calls them to perform.
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
Exodus 3 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's deliverance, showcasing God's dramatic intervention in the life of Moses and the destiny of His people. After generations of slavery in Egypt, God initiates His plan for liberation through a remarkable encounter. This chapter, filled with profound theological implications and practical insights, reveals the character of God and His unwavering commitment to His promises. The key to understanding Exodus 3 lies in recognizing it as the starting point of God’s active involvement to free the Israelites from their bondage.
The Burning Bush: A Divine Revelation (Exodus 3:1-5)
Moses, now an eighty-year-old shepherd tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, was far removed from his earlier life in the Egyptian court. He likely believed his destiny was sealed in the quiet solitude of the wilderness. He had spent forty years in Egypt, followed by another forty years in the desert, a consequence of his earlier actions (Exodus 2:11-15). However, God often uses ordinary circumstances to reveal His extraordinary plan.
While leading the flock to Horeb, "the mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1) also known as Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:12; 19:20; Deuteronomy 1:19), Moses encountered a sight that defied explanation: a bush engulfed in flames, yet remaining unconsumed (Exodus 3:2). This was no ordinary fire; it was "the angel of the LORD" appearing in a flame of fire (Exodus 3:2). God often reveals His special presence in the contradictions of life.
Intrigued, Moses approached to investigate. God called to him from the bush, commanding him to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:4-5). This act of removing sandals signified humility and reverence in the presence of the divine. Moses needed to humble himself and be reminded of his humble beginnings. Man was made "out of the dust from the ground" (Genesis 2:7). It was a symbolic acknowledgement of God's holiness and Moses's own unworthiness.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6-10)
God then identified Himself, not as a new or unknown deity, but as "the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). This declaration linked God's present action to His covenant promises made to the patriarchs centuries before. It was a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness and His enduring commitment to His people.
Moses, overwhelmed by the divine presence, hid his face, afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:6). He took God seriously. God revealed that He had indeed seen the suffering of His people in Egypt and heard their cries (Exodus 3:7, 9). God is not unaware of our sufferings. He declared His intention to deliver them from slavery and bring them to "a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). This "Promised Land" was the destination of God's redemptive plan.
To accomplish this great task, God commissioned Moses: "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). This was a radical shift in Moses's life, a call to leadership he neither expected nor felt qualified for. God doesn’t merely determine the ends, He also determines the means.
"Who Am I?": Moses's Objection and God's Assurance (Exodus 3:11-12)
Moses, now a humble man, responded with a question reflecting his sense of inadequacy: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). This was a far cry from the bold and brash man who murdered an Egyptian and expected his fellow Hebrews to look up to him. Instead of self-confidence, Moses now needed God-confidence.
God's answer was not a pep talk, but a promise: "But I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). The assurance of God's presence was the foundation of Moses's calling. God did not tell Moses, “Cheer up and believe in yourself.” Instead he promised him His divine presence. Moreover, God gave Moses a sign: "When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). This promised act of worship on Mount Sinai would be a testament to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promise. God wasn’t freeing the Israelites so they could sit around and be lazy. He was freeing them so that they could do what they had been created for: He wanted them to worship Him as the one true God. Whenever God delivers you from something, he also delivers you to something—Himself.
"I AM WHO I AM": God's Self-Revelation (Exodus 3:13-15)
Moses, anticipating the skepticism of the Israelites, asked God what name he should use when they inquired who had sent him. God's response is one of the most profound self-revelations in Scripture: "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This statement, translated from the Hebrew Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, signifies God's self-existence, self-sufficiency, and eternal nature. It could also be rendered, “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE” or “I CAUSE TO BE WHAT I CAUSE TO BE.” By describing Himself this way, God was affirming His self-existence and self-sufficiency. He depends on nothing and no one. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all.
God further instructed Moses to tell the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you" (Exodus 3:14). This simple yet profound declaration would resonate with the Israelites, reminding them of God's eternal presence and power.
God then connected this "I AM" to the God of their ancestors: "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" (Exodus 3:15). The name "LORD" is related etymologically to the Hebrew verb. Instead of the first-person singular form (“I AM”), “LORD” represents the third-person singular form (thus, “HE IS”). In Hebrew, it is represented by four consonants without any vowels: YHWH. We don’t know for certain how this was pronounced because the Jews feared pronouncing the sacred name, but it may have been said this way: “Yahweh.” This reinforced the continuity of God's covenant relationship with His people and His unchanging character. Though the world is ever-changing, HE IS.
God's Plan for Deliverance (Exodus 3:16-22)
God outlined the plan for Moses to present to the elders of Israel, informing them of God's intention to deliver them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:16-17). They were then to approach Pharaoh with a request to journey into the wilderness to worship the LORD (Exodus 3:18).
God foretold Pharaoh's resistance, stating that he would not let them go unless compelled by a mighty hand (Exodus 3:19). God would respond with miraculous displays of divine power to compel the king to release Israel (Exodus 3:20). The Lord would also see to it that the Israelites didn’t leave Egypt empty-handed (Exodus 3:21). God promised to judge Egypt and perform signs, which would later manifest as the ten plagues (Exodus 7-12). Furthermore, God assured Moses that the Israelites would not leave empty-handed but would plunder the Egyptians, receiving silver, gold, and clothing (Exodus 3:21-22). In a sense, they would receive the back wages they deserved.
Thus, Moses and the Israelites were to act in faith, trusting that the self-sufficient God who had revealed himself to them would be everything they could ever need. He is all we need too.
Exodus 3 reveals a God who is both transcendent and immanent, both holy and compassionate. He is the eternal "I AM," the self-existent God who is faithful to His covenant promises. He sees the suffering of His people, hears their cries, and intervenes to deliver them. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that God is actively involved in the lives of His people and that He equips them for the tasks He calls them to perform.