The Burning Bush
Exodus 3:1-10
3 1 Moses’ father-in-law was named Jethro.a Jethro was a priest of Midian. Moses took care of Jethro’s sheep. One day, Moses led the sheep to the west side of the desert. He went to a mountain called Horeb,b the mountain of God. 2 On that mountain, Moses saw the Angel of the Lord in a burning bush.
Moses saw a bush that was burning without being destroyed. 3 So he decided to go closer to the bush and see how a bush could continue burning without being burned up.
4 The Lord saw Moses was coming to look at the bush. So he called to him from the bush. He said, “Moses, Moses!”
Moses said, “Yes, Lord.”
5 Then God said, “Don’t come any closer. Take off your sandals. You are standing on holy ground.c 6 I am the God of your ancestors.d I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have seen the troubles my people have suffered in Egypt, and I have heard their cries when the Egyptians hurt them. I know about their pain. 8 Now I will go down and save my people from the Egyptians. I will take them from that land and lead them to a good land where they can be free from these troubles.e It is a land filled with many good things.f Many different people live in that land: the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 I have heard the cries of the Israelites, and I have seen the way the Egyptians have made life hard for them. 10 So now I am sending you to Pharaoh. Go! Lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
a 3:1 Jethro He is also called Reuel.
b 3:1 a mountain called Horeb That is, “Mount Sinai.”
c 3:5 holy ground A restricted area that was considered sacred (special) because of God’s presence.
d 3:6 ancestors Literally, “fathers,” meaning a person’s parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.
e 3:8 land … troubles Or “a spacious land.”
f 3:8 land filled … good things Literally, “land flowing with milk and honey.” Also in verse 17.