1
Now Moshe was tending the sheep of Yitro his father-in-law, the priest of Midyan. Leading the flock to the far side of the desert, he came to the mountain of God, to Horev.
2
The angel of ADONAI appeared to him in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush. He looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up.
3
Moshe said, "I'm going to go over and see this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn't being burned up."
4
When ADONAI saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moshe! Moshe!" He answered, "Here I am."
5
He said, "Don't come any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.
6
I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz'chak and the God of Ya'akov." Moshe covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7
ADONAI said, "I have seen how my people are being oppressed in Egypt and heard their cry for release from their slavemasters, because I know their pain.
8
I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that country to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the place of the Kena'ani, Hitti, Emori, P'rizi, Hivi and Y'vusi.
9
Yes, the cry of the people of Isra'el has come to me, and I have seen how terribly the Egyptians oppress them.
10
Therefore, now, come; and I will send you to Pharaoh; so that you can lead my people, the descendants of Isra'el, out of Egypt."
11
Moshe said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the people of Isra'el out of Egypt?"