Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law and priest of Midian, when he led them to the rear of the desert and came to the mountain of God at Horeb. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush that was burning with fire yet not being consumed.

Moses said, "I will turn aside now and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed by fire." When the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!" And he replied, "Here I am."

The Lord said, "Do not draw near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for this place is holy ground." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God, who said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

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; I know their sorrows. I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up into a good land, flowing with milk and honey; unto the place where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live.

The cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which they are being oppressed by the Egyptians. Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh." Moses said to God, "Who am I that you would send me to Pharaoh, and bring Israel out of Egypt?"

I will be with you; and when you lead my people out of Egypt, they will worship me on this mountain. When I come to the children of Israel and tell them you have sent me, they will ask what your name is; what shall I say to them?

God said to Moses, "I AM the One who exists and always will exist," and he instructed him to tell the Israelites that He had sent Him. God said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites that I am the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who has sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is how I will be remembered by every generation.

Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, The Lord God of your fathers, who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has visited you and seen what is being done to you in Egypt. I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey, where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live.

And they shall listen to your voice: and you and the elders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt, saying, "The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; now let us please go three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord our God. And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform among them, and after that he will let you go. I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it shall come to pass that when you go, you shall not go empty. Every woman shall borrow from her neighbor and those who live in her house, jewels of silver and gold, and clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters; then you will plunder the Egyptians.