¹ It was while Moses was out tending the flock of his father-in-law (His Excellence, the Priest of Midian) that he’d led the sheep into the desert to the dry mountain (Horeb). ² And there, Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in a flame that was burning in a bush. He saw the flames in the bush, but [the bush] wasn’t really burning. ³ And Moses said, ‘I’ll get closer, so I can see this great sight… to see why the bush isn’t being burned!’
⁴ And when [God] saw him drawing closer to look, the Lord called to him from the bush. He said: ‘Moses! Moses!’ And [Moses] asked: ‘What is it?’
⁵ And He said: ‘Don’t come any closer. Take your sandals off, because you’re standing on holy ground.’
⁶ Then He said: ‘I am the God of your ancestors… the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.’ Well at that, Moses turned his face away, because he was afraid to look at God.
⁷ Then the Lord told Moses: ‘I’ve seen the hardships that My people are enduring in Egypt, and I’ve heard their cries about their task-masters, so I know what they’re going through. ⁸ Now, I’ve come down here to free them from the Egyptians and to take them away from that land, to a land that is good and has plenty of room… a land that is flowing with milk and honey. It’s the place where the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites [live]. ⁹ For {Look!} the shouting of the children of IsraEl has now reached to Me, and I’ve seen the suffering that the Egyptians are bringing upon them. ¹⁰ So now, come; because I’m going to send you to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and you’re going to bring My people (the children of IsraEl) out of the land of Egypt.’
¹¹ But Moses asked God: ‘Just who am I that I should go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and bring the children of IsraEl out that land?’
¹² And God replied: ‘I will be with you! This [place] will serve as the sign that I am sending you. Then when you bring My people out of Egypt, you must serve God on this mountain.’
¹³ But Moses said to God: ‘Look, I’ll go to the children of IsraEl and tell them, The God of our ancestors has sent me to you. But they’re going to ask, What is His Name? So, what should I tell them?’
¹⁴ And God told Moses: ‘I am The Being!… just tell the children of IsraEl that The Being has sent you.’
¹⁵ Then God said to Moses: ‘Tell the Sons of IsraEl that Jehovah, the God of our ancestors – the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – has sent me to you. That’s My Name through the ages, and it’s how I should be remembered from generation to generation.
¹⁶ ‘So, go and gather the elders of the children of IsraEl, then tell them that Jehovah, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to you. He’s the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob. [And tell them that] He said: I have looked [down] and [seen] all the bad things that are happening to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ And say, I will take you away from this Egyptian oppression into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites… a land that is flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁸ Then they will listen to what you have to say. ’After that, you and the elders of IsraEl must go to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him this: The God of the Hebrews has called us, so we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to offer a sacrifice to our God. ¹⁹ However, I know that Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) won’t let you go [unless he sees] a mighty hand [of power]. ²⁰ So I will raise My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I [wish to show] them… and then he will allow you to leave.
²¹ ‘I will also make [My] people look good in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that when you escape, you won’t leave empty handed. ²² Women will ask their neighbors and landlords for clothing, and for gold and silver [jewelry], which you will put on your sons and your daughters… and you will plunder the Egyptians.’