Exodus 3
Exodus Chapter 3 begins with a scene in which Moses meets God in the wilderness. This chapter consists of 1) Moses’ vocational situation, 2) the event of God appearing (the burning bush), 3) the conversation between God and Moses; it centers on God, who hears the suffering of the people of Israel, revealing His plan of salvation through Moses, and calling Moses as God’s messenger.
1verseNow 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.
2verseThe LORD’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3verseMoses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
4verseWhen 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.”
5verseHe said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
6verseMoreover 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.
7verseThe 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.
8verseI 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.
9verseNow, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10verseCome now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11verseMoses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12verseHe 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.”
13verseMoses 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?”
14verseGod 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.’”
15verseGod 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.
16verseGo 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.
17verseI 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.”’
18verseThey 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.’
19verseI know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20verseI will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do among them, and after that he will let you go.
21verseI will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed.
22verseBut every woman shall ask of her neighbor, 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.”
Summary of the Main Points
- Moses’ daily life (verse 1): In the Midian wilderness, Moses, tending the sheep of his father-in-law, witnesses a sight of a bush burning among the bushes.
- God’s appearance (verses 2–6): God calls Moses from the bush and reveals that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Giving of the mission (verses 7–12): God saw and heard the suffering of the people of Israel, and He tells Moses that He will send him along with a plan to rescue them.
- Moses’ questions and God’s response (verses 13–22): When Moses asks what God’s name, mission, and how he should speak to the people of Israel and to the Egyptians, God tells him, “I AM WHO I AM,” and again confirms His promise to rescue the people of Israel from Egypt.
Overall Meaning of Exodus 3
This chapter can be seen as a larger flow of God’s self-revelation and calling. God does not ignore the suffering people; by remembering the specific promises He made with Abraham, He begins the work of salvation proactively. It also shows that God’s calling can come within ordinary human daily life—amid the wilderness and sheep tending. Regarding Moses’ fear and questions, God answers with patience and promises to be with him.
Reflection Points
- I reflect on whether I am living my daily life without recognizing God’s call.
- I consider whether, amid difficulties, I can trust God’s guidance, and whether, like Moses, I too can be used in God’s work.
- I think about what it means to me to experience meeting God, whose name is “I AM WHO I AM”—a God who does not change and is faithful.
Personal Application
- I hold onto the belief that even in everyday life, God’s special plan can begin.
- When fear comes first, I remember the promise that God is with me.
- I try to care about the people around me who are suffering and to look at them with God’s eyes.
