July 17, 2013, Reading

Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12

1 Moses was looking after the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led it to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2 The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame blazing from the middle of a bush. Moseslooked; there was the bush blazing, but the bush was not being burnt up.

3 Moses said, ‘I must go across and see this strange sight, and why the bush is not being burnt up.’

4 When Yahweh saw him going across to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ he answered.

5 ‘Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

6 I am the God of your ancestors,’ he said, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and theGod of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

9 Yes indeed, the Israelites’ cry for help has reached me, and I have also seen the cruel way in which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

10 So now I am sending you to Pharaoh, for you to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’

11 Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’

12 ‘I shall be with you,’ God said, ‘and this is the sign by which you will know that I was the one who sent you. After you have led the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’