Exodus 3:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Exodus 3:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Verse 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Verse 3Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." Verse 4When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Verse 5Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." Verse 6He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Verse 7Then the Lord said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, Verse 8and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Verse 9The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Verse 10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."
Verse 11But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Verse 12He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain."
Devotion
There are several themes in this passage, but perhaps the most powerful is the revelation about this God. It is not unique that the God of Israel, that is, the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and Joseph, would dwell on a mountain. However, what is unique is that this God who dwells in high places is concerned about what happens to the victims of history. Furthermore, this God in heaven utilizes a flawed human being, Moses, to carry out the divine purpose.
Prayer
Dear God in heaven, we give you thanks that you deem the affairs of humans to be of divine interest. May you continue to work your will and purpose through those whom you call. Amen.