God speaks to Moses from a burning bush and sends him to bring Israel out of Egypt. He reveals his name, I AM THAT I AM, and promises to be with Moses.
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 .
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 .
3 And Moses said , I will now turn aside , and see this great sight , why the bush is not burnt .
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.
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 .
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 .
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 ;
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 .
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.
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 .
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 ?
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 .
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?
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.
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 .
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 :
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 .
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 .
19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go , no, not by a mighty hand .
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 .
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 :
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 .