- Book: [[Exodus]] - Next chapter: [[Exodus 4]] > [!summary] Summary > - [[Yahweh]] appears to [[Moses]] in the [[Burning Bush]], declares the ground holy, and reveals himself as the God of the patriarchs > - God hears Israel’s cry and commits to rescue them to the land of the [[Canaan]]ites, “flowing with milk and honey” > - Moses objects, but God promises his presence and reveals his name: “I AM WHO I AM” > [!info] Why is this here? > - Launches the rescue by centering it on [[Yahweh]]’s covenant faithfulness, not Moses’ ability > - Reveals God’s holiness and name before the showdown with [[Pharaoh]] > - Sets the purpose of the rescue: bringing Israel to God (worship on this mountain) # Overview ## v. 1-6: The [[Burning Bush]] and holy ground - Moses encounters the [[Angel]] of the [[Lord]] in a bush that burns without being consumed - God calls from the bush, commands Moses to remove his sandals, and declares the place holy - He identifies himself as the God of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]], and [[Jacob]], and Moses hides his face > [!note] Holiness foregrounded > The command to keep distance and remove sandals highlights God’s holiness and anticipates the question of how he will dwell with his people (later in [[Exodus 19]] and the [[Tabernacle]]). ## v. 7-10: God sees, hears, and comes down - God has seen Israel’s misery in [[Egypt]] and heard their cries - He promises to rescue them and bring them to a “good and spacious land” - Moses is commissioned to confront [[Pharaoh]] and lead Israel out ## v. 11-12: “Who am I?” - Moses questions his adequacy for the task - God answers with presence, not credentials: “I will be with you” - The sign: Israel will worship God on this mountain ## v. 13-15: The name of God - Moses asks what to say if [[Israel]] asks God’s name - God reveals his name: “I AM WHO I AM” / “I AM has sent me” - He is the God of the fathers, to be remembered by this name > [!note] “I will be who I will be” > The name echoes God’s earlier promise “I will be with you,” emphasizing his covenant commitment and enduring presence. ## v. 16-22: The plan and the promise - Moses is to gather Israel’s elders and announce God’s rescue and land promise - God foretells [[Pharaoh]]’s resistance but promises mighty acts - Israel will leave with favor, plundering [[Egypt]] rather than departing empty-handed # Details - The rescue is framed as God’s initiative: he sees, hears, remembers, and comes down - The focus repeatedly shifts from Moses to God, underscoring that [[Yahweh]] is the main actor in the book - “Worship on this mountain” shows the rescue’s goal is relationship with God, not just escape from slavery