Exodus 3
1 Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock beyond the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, at Horeb.
2 The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. Moses looked: the bush was burning with fire, but it was not consumed.
3 Moses said, “I will go closer to see this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”
4 When the LORD saw that Moses had come closer to look, God called to him from within the bush: “Moses, Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.”
5 God said, “Don’t come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
6 He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their suffering.
8 I have come down to rescue my people from the hands of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey: the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
9 Now the cry of the Israelites has reached me. I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Now go. I will send you to Pharaoh. Bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
11 Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this will be your sign that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “I will go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you.’ Then they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?”
14 God answered Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He added, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, has sent me to you—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ This is my name forever; this is how I will be remembered from generation to generation.
16 Go, gather the elders of Israel and tell them: ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, appeared to me—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and said: “I have indeed watched over you and what has been done to you in Egypt.
17 And I have said: I will bring you out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
18 They will listen to you. Then you and the elders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and say to him: ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now, please let us travel three days into the wilderness and offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.’
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even when faced with a mighty hand.
20 I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all my wonders, which I will perform among them. After that, he will send you away.
21 I will make this people find favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. When you leave, you will not leave empty-handed.
22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and the woman staying in her house for silver objects, gold objects, and clothes. You will put these on your sons and daughters, and you will plunder the Egyptians.”
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