Exodus 3
The Bush That Burns and Is Not Consumed
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The Divine Visitation
3:1Moses was tending the sheep of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the sheep toward the wilderness and came to Mount Horeb.
3:2An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the bush. He saw that the bush was burning with fire, yet it was not consumed.
3:3Moses said, “I will go over and look at this great sight. Why is the bush not consumed?”
3:4When the Lord saw that he was approaching to look, the Lord called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” He replied, “What is it?”
3:5He said, “Do not come near. Unfasten the footwear from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
3:6He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses turned his face away, for he was afraid to look before God.
The Divine Commission
3:7The Lord said to Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their pain.
3:8“I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3:9“Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has reached Me, and I have seen the affliction with which the Egyptians afflict them.
3:10“Come now, and let Me send you to Pharaoh, king of Egypt; you shall bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of the land of Egypt.”
3:11Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt?”
3:12God said to Moses, “I will be with you. This shall be the sign for you that I am sending you: when you bring My people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
The Divine Name
3:13Moses said to God, “When I go to the sons of Israel and say, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
3:14God said to Moses, “I am the One Who Is.” He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘The One Who Is has sent me to you.’”
3:15God said again to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘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 eternal name and My memorial from generation to generation.
The Divine Plan
3:16“Go, gather the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and say to them: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely attended to you and to all that has happened to you in Egypt.
3:17“‘“And I said that I will bring you up from the affliction of the Egyptians to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
3:18“They will listen to your voice. You and the council of elders of Israel shall go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say to him, ‘The God of the Hebrews has called us. Let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to our God.’
3:19“I know that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, will not let you go unless by a strong hand.
3:20“I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all My wonders that I will perform among them. Afterward he will send you away.
3:21“I will give this people favor before the Egyptians. When you depart, you shall not go empty-handed.
3:22“Every woman shall ask her neighbor and her fellow lodger for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and daughters, and you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.