The Bible: Exodus Chapter 3 - in World English Version with Audio and Chapter Commentary.

Exodus Chapter 3

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God's mountain, to Horeb.

2 The LORD's angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burnt with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 Moses said, "I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."

4 When the LORD saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Here I am."

5 He said, "Don't come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground."

6 Moreover he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

8 I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

11 Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

12 He said, "Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

13 Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what should I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Israel this: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 God said moreover to Moses, "You shall tell the children of Israel this, '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 name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.

16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.

17 I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey." '

18 They will listen to your voice. You shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD, our God.'

19 I know that the king of Egypt won't give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do amongst them, and after that he will let you go.

21 I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed.

22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her who visits her house, jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing. You shall put them on your sons, and on your daughters. You shall plunder the Egyptians."

Footnotes

Verse 2: When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, "LORD" or "GOD" is the translation of God's Proper Name.

Version: World English Bible

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Exodus Chapter 3 Guide

At last the actual call of God came to Moses. It found him fulfilling a daily duty, keeping the sheep of his father-in-law. There can be no doubt that in the silent solitudes of the wilderness he had meditated on the condition of his people. Forty years, however, changes any man. The fiery impetuosity which characterized him at forty had matured into self-restraint and meekness at eighty.

In the mysterious fire manifestation God said to His servant certain things which lie at the foundation of all that is to follow. "I have seen ... I have heard ... I know ... I am come ... I will send thee." Small wonder that Moses answered, "Who am IT" Does it seem strange that when God had spoken of Himself Moses should be conscious of himself? It is not strange. The light of the divine glory ever reveals man to himself. Hence the cry, 'Who am I?" The answer was immediate and full of grace, "Certainly I will be with thee."

The second difficulty immediately presented itself to Moses. He thought of the people to whom he was being sent and inquired, "Whom shall I say has sent me?" In order to act with authority, he was conscious that he himself must know God better. The answer was threefold: first, for himself, "I AM THAT I AM"; second, for Israel, "the God of your fathers"; finally, for Pharaoh, "Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews." To Moses' commission for leadership there was a direct communication of His secret. To the people a Name was given that reminded them of a covenant which could not be broken. Pharaoh could know God only through the chosen people. Thus the difficulties of Moses were recognized but set in the light of a great divine revelation.

From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

Exodus Chapter 3 Commentary

Chapter Outline

God appears to Moses in a burning bush. -- (1-6)
God sends Moses to deliver Israel. -- (7-10)
The name Jehovah. -- (11-15)
The deliverance of the Israelites promised. -- (16-22)

Verses 1-6

The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as a shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God. To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his belief of a future state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Lu 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.

Verses 7-10

God notices the afflictions of Israel. Their sorrows; even the secret sorrows of God's people are known to him. Their cry; God hears the cries of his afflicted people. The oppression they endured; the highest and greatest of their oppressors are not above him. God promises speedy deliverance by methods out of the common ways of providence. Those whom God, by his grace, delivers out of a spiritual Egypt, he will bring to a heavenly Canaan. (Ex 3:11-15)

Verses 11-15

Formerly Moses thought himself able to deliver Israel, and set himself to the work too hastily. Now, when the fittest person on earth for it, he knows his own weakness. This was the effect of more knowledge of God and of himself. Formerly, self-confidence mingled with strong faith and great zeal, now sinful distrust of God crept in under the garb of humility; so defective are the strongest graces and the best duties of the most eminent saints. But all objections are answered in, Certainly I will be with thee. That is enough. Two names God would now be known by. A name that denotes what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies,

That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself.
That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
That he is incomprehensible; we cannot by searching find him out: this name checks all bold and curious inquiries concerning God.
That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature; let Israel know this, I AM hath sent me unto you. I am, and there is none else besides me. All else have their being from God, and are wholly dependent upon him. Also, here is a name that denotes what God is to his people. The Lord God of your fathers sent me unto you. Moses must revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was almost lost; and then they might expect the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers.

Verses 16-22

Moses' success with the elders of Israel would be good. God, who, by his grace, inclines the heart, and opens the ear, could say beforehand, They shall hearken to thy voice; for he would make them willing in this day of power. As to Pharaoh, Moses is here told that petitions and persuasions, and humble complaints, would not prevail with him; nor a mighty hand stretched out in signs and wonders. But those will certainly be broken by the power of God's hand, who will not bow to the power of his word. Pharaoh's people should furnish Israel with riches at their departure. In Pharaoh's tyranny and Israel's oppression, we see the miserable, abject state of sinners. However galling the yoke, they drudge on till the Lord sends redemption. With the invitations of the gospel, God sends the teaching of his Spirit. Thus are men made willing to seek and to strive for deliverance. Satan loses his power to hold them, they come forth with all they have and are, and apply all to the glory of God and the service of his church.

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.

The Bible: Exodus Chapter 3: with Audio and Commentary.