Exodus - Chapter 3

Exodus 3.1 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. Exodus 3.2 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. Exodus 3.3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Exodus 3.4 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. Exodus 3.5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Exodus 3.6 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. Exodus 3.7 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; Exodus 3.8 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. Exodus 3.9 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. Exodus 3.10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 3.11 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? Exodus 3.12 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. Exodus 3.13 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? Exodus 3.14 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. Exodus 3.15 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. Exodus 3.16 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: Exodus 3.17 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. Exodus 3.18 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. Exodus 3.19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. Exodus 3.20 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. Exodus 3.21 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. Exodus 3.22 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 : Chapter 3

The Call of Moses to the Burning Bush

Exodus chapter 3 reveals the divine call of Moses to the burning bush, a decisive moment in the history of faith. How does God reveal himself to his servant and entrust him with a divine mission? This foundational text describes Moses' encounter with God on Mount Horeb, where the revelation of the sacred name "I Am That I Am" and the mission to free the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt are revealed.

Main Themes

This chapter explores essential themes such as:

We invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that resonate with the themes of revelation and mission present in this transformative chapter.

Related Bible Passages

Acts 7:30-34

"After forty years, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness near Mount Sinai, in the flames of a burning bush. Moses was perplexed by what he saw. As he drew near to observe, he heard the voice of the Lord: "I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard your groaning and have come down to rescue you. Now come, and I will send you back to Egypt."

This passage recounts the events of Exodus 3, illustrating Moses' call at the burning bush.

Mark 12:26

"Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?"

Jesus quotes Exodus 3:6 to defend the reality of the resurrection, thus underscoring the continuing importance of this passage in our understanding of faith.

Hebrews 11:27

"By faith Moses came out from Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, and endured, because he saw Him who is invisible."

This verse interprets Moses' courage in responding to God's call in Exodus 3 as a remarkable act of faith.

John 8:58

"I tell you that before Abraham was born, I am!"

Jesus evokes the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14, applying it to himself and thus affirming his divinity, establishing a profound connection with God's revelation.

Revelation 1:8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

This self-description of God echoes the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14, where God declares, "I am that I am," emphasizing his eternity and sovereignty.