One day, Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats for Jethro, Midian’s priest and father-in-law. He led the flock across the desert and came to Sinai, the holy mountain. There, the angel of the Lord appeared in a flame coming toward Moses in the middle of a bush. The bush wasn’t burning up but on fire. Moses walked closer to the middle of the bush, and God called out, “Moses, Moses!” Moses said, “Here I am.” The Lord said, “Don’t come any closer. Take off your sandals because you’re standing on holy ground. I am the God of Isaac, Abraham and Jacob.” So Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
“Indeed, I have heard My people’s cries, and understood how the Egyptians have been oppressed. I am sending you now to the king of Egypt to lead my people out of the country.” But Moses asked God, “I am nobody. How can I go to the king and send the Israelites out to Egypt?” God said, “I will be with you. When you send the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be proof that I’ve sent you.” Moses said, “When I go to the Israelites, they will ask me about Your name. How can I tell them?” God answered, “I AM who I AM. Tell them:‘’The One who is called I AM has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever for all generations to call Me. I have chosen that I will bring them out of Egypt, and will take them to a rich and fertile land of the Canaanites, Hivites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites. My people will listen to what you’re saying. You will go with the leaders of Israel to the king of Egypt and say to him, that ‘The Lord has revealed Himself to us. Now allow us to go for three days into the desert to offer our sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ The king of Egypt won’t let you go, but I will use My power to punish Egypt by doing bad things there. After that, he will let you go.”
“I will make the Egyptians respect you, so when my people leave, they will not be caught empty-handed. Every woman of the Israelites will ask Egyptian neighbors for clothing and jewelry. The Israelites will put these things on their sons and daughters and carry away the wealth of the Egyptians.”