UNROLL
A high, bare granite mountain glowing red at dusk above a dry desert valley, a small flock of sheep and goats scattered far below.

The Book of

Exodus 3

Forty years after he ran, Moses is an old shepherd in the desert. Then a bush catches fire and does not burn up.

22 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a delivererChapter 3
  2. 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
  3. 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
  4. 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
  5. 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
  6. 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the glory

Moses at the Burning Bush

Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

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There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

God

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

Moses

“Here I am,” he answered.

God

“Do not come any closer,” God said.

God
God

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Reflect

Holy ground

Moses went over to see a “marvelous sight” and found himself in the presence of God. “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals.” Then He spoke as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Moses hid his face. God is near, and He is holy. How do you come to Him? Write down one way you could slow down and take Him seriously this week, as Moses did when he took off his sandals.

God

Moses

But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God

“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

I will surely be with you

Exodus 3:12

Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.

Exodus 3:14

This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘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.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Question

Quick question

Moses expected the Israelites to ask one thing about the God who sent him.

What did God tell Moses to say when the Israelites asked His name?

Gray-bearded Hebrew elders seated close together on mats in a mud-brick courtyard at night, looking up at an old shepherd with a staff standing in the lamplight.

Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’

But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them. And after that, he will release you.

0:57

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed.

Every woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Pray

The God who sees

God told Moses, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people,” and “I have come down to rescue them.” He is the same God today. Bring Him the burden you carry, or someone you love who is suffering. Thank Him that He sees, hears and knows, and ask Him for the promise He gave Moses: “I will surely be with you.”

The name of God

I will be withyouGod’s promise to Moses(3:12)I AM WHO I AMthe name God gives(3:14)The LORDGod’s name YHWH (3:15)My name foreverremembered in everygenerationBefore Abraham,I amJesus in the temple(John 8:58)

Whiteboard

Moses asked, “Who am I?” God answered, “I will surely be with you.” Then He gave His name: “I AM WHO I AM.” In Hebrew the name the LORD sounds like ‘I am,’ and God said, “This is My name forever.” Centuries later Jesus said, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ (John 8:58).

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Exodus 3

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A verse to carry with you

I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

Exodus 3:14

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