Exodus 3:1-12 - Prayer Tents

Exodus 3

Moses and the Burning Bush

3One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro

, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.H4872H1961H7462H6629H3503H2859H3548H4080H5090H6629H310H4057H935H2022H430H27222There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up.H4397H3068H7200H3827H784H8432H5572H7200H5572H1197H784H5572H3983"This is amazing," Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it."H4872H559H5493H7200H1419H4758H4069H5572H11974When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied.H3068H7200H5493H7200H430H7121H8432H5572H559H4872H4872H5595"Do not come any closer," the LORD warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.H559H7126H1988H5394H5275H7272H4725H834H5975H6944H1276I am the God of your father

—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.H559H430H1H430H85H430H3327H430H3290H4872H5641H6440H3372H5027H4307Then the LORD told him, "I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.H3068H559H7200H7200H6040H5971H4714H8085H6818H6440H5065H3045H43418So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.H3381H5337H3027H4714H5927H776H2896H776H7342H776H2100H2461H1706H4725H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H29839Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.H6818H1121H3478H935H7200H3906H4714H390510Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt."H3212H7971H6547H3318H5971H1121H3478H471411But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?"H4872H559H430H3212H6547H3318H1121H3478H471412God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain."H559H226H3588H7971H3318H5971H4714H5647H430H202213But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"H4872H559H430H935H1121H3478H559H430H1H7971H559H8034H55914God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM

. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you."H430H559H4872H1961H1961H559H559H1121H3478H797115God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh

, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.H430H559H5750H4872H559H1121H3478H3068H430H1H430H85H430H3327H430H3290H7971H8034H5769H2143H1755H175516"Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, "I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you.H3212H622H2205H3478H622H559H3068H430H1H430H85H3327H3290H7200H559H6485H6485H6213H471417I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live."'H559H5927H6040H4714H776H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H2983H776H2100H2461H170618"The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD, our God.'H8085H6963H935H2205H3478H4428H4714H559H3068H430H5680H7136H3212H7969H3117H1870H4057H2076H3068H43019"But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him

.H3045H4428H4714H5414H1980H2389H302720So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.H7971H3027H5221H4714H6381H6213H7130H310H797121And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.H5414H5971H2580H5869H4714H3212H3212H738722Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth."H802H7592H7934H1481H1004H3627H3701H3627H2091H8071H7760H1121H1323H5337H4714