Moses and the burning bush

Moses lived in the desert of Midian for many years. One day he took his father-in-law’s flock of sheep to Mount Horeb. People called it the mountain of God.

There Moses saw a strange sight. A bush was on fire, but it didn’t burn up. When Moses went nearer to find out what was going on, he heard a voice from inside the bush.

The voice said, “Don’t come closer. Take off your sandals. You are standing on holy ground.” The Lord God spoke from the bush. He said, “I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.” Moses was afraid when he heard God speaking to him. The Lord said, “I have seen how my people are suffering in Egypt. I have heard their cries for help. I have seen how badly the Egyptians are treating them. So I have come down to save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them into a good land. It has a lot of room. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. I want you to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. They are my people.”

Moses was even more scared when he heard these words. He said, “I can’t do this. I can’t go to Pharaoh. I can’t be the Israelites’ leader.”

But God said, “I will be with you. And I promise you that you will lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and all of you will worship me on this very mountain.” Moses said, “But what must I tell the people about you? What is your name?” The Lord gave Moses his name: I AM. God said, “Tell them I AM sent you. Say, ‘The Lord is the God of your fathers. He has sent me to you. You must always call him the Lord.’” Moses was still too scared to go. He said, “Israel’s leaders won’t listen to me. They won’t believe you really sent me.” The Lord promised that he would help Moses to do special signs. Moses still didn’t want to go. “I’m not a good speaker,” he said. The Lord promised to teach him what to say. But Moses said, “Please send someone else.” The Lord became angry with Moses. He said, “Your brother Aaron can speak in your place. But you must tell him what to say. And you have to do the signs.” Then Moses was willing to go to Egypt and lead his people to their own land. Exodus 2 and 4