31 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law , the priest of Midian ; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb , the mountain of God . 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush ; and he looked , and behold , the bush was burning with fire , yet the bush was not consumed . 3 So Moses said , " I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight , why the bush is not burned up." 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look , God called to him from the midst of the bush and said , "Moses , Moses !" And he said , "Here I am." 5 Then He said , "Do not come near here ; remove your sandals from your feet , for the place on which you are standing is holy ground ." 6 He said also, " I am the God of your father , the God of Abraham , the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob ." Then Moses hid his face , for he was afraid to look at God .
7 The Lord said , "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt , and have given heed to their cry because e of their taskmasters , for I am aware of their sufferings . 8 "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians , and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land , to a land flowing with milk and honey , to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite . 9 "Now , behold , the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore , I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 "Therefore, come now , and I will send you to Pharaoh , so that you may bring My people , the sons of Israel , out of Egypt ."
11 But Moses said to God , " Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh , and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt ?" 12 And He said , "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt , you shall worship God at this mountain ." 13 Then Moses said to God , "Behold , I am going to the sons of Israel , and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name ?' What shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses , " I AM WHO I AM "; and He said , "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel , 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 God , furthermore , said to Moses , "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel , ' The Lord , the God of your fathers , the God of Abraham , the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob , has sent me to you.' This is My name forever , and this is My memorial-name to all generations .
16 "Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ' The Lord , the God of your fathers , the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , has appeared to me, saying , " I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt . 17 "So I said , I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite , to a land flowing with milk and honey ."'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 3:1-17
Commentary on Exodus 3:1-6
(Read Exodus 3:1-6)
The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as a shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God. To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his belief of a future state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Luke 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.
Commentary on Exodus 3:7-10
(Read Exodus 3:7-10)
God notices the afflictions of Israel. Their sorrows; even the secret sorrows of God's people are known to him. Their cry; God hears the cries of his afflicted people. The oppression they endured; the highest and greatest of their oppressors are not above him. God promises speedy deliverance by methods out of the common ways of providence. Those whom God, by his grace, delivers out of a spiritual Egypt, he will bring to a heavenly Canaan.
Commentary on Exodus 3:11-15
(Read Exodus 3:11-15)
Formerly Moses thought himself able to deliver Israel, and set himself to the work too hastily. Now, when the fittest person on earth for it, he knows his own weakness. This was the effect of more knowledge of God and of himself. Formerly, self-confidence mingled with strong faith and great zeal, now sinful distrust of God crept in under the garb of humility; so defective are the strongest graces and the best duties of the most eminent saints. But all objections are answered in, Certainly I will be with thee. That is enough. Two names God would now be known by. A name that denotes what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies, 1. That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself. 2. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 3. That he is incomprehensible; we cannot by searching find him out: this name checks all bold and curious inquiries concerning God. 4. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature; let Israel know this, I AM hath sent me unto you. I am, and there is none else besides me. All else have their being from God, and are wholly dependent upon him. Also, here is a name that denotes what God is to his people. The Lord God of your fathers sent me unto you. Moses must revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was almost lost; and then they might expect the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers.
Commentary on Exodus 3:16-22
(Read Exodus 3:16-22)
Moses' success with the elders of Israel would be good. God, who, by his grace, inclines the heart, and opens the ear, could say beforehand, They shall hearken to thy voice; for he would make them willing in this day of power. As to Pharaoh, Moses is here told that petitions and persuasions, and humble complaints, would not prevail with him; nor a mighty hand stretched out in signs and wonders. But those will certainly be broken by the power of God's hand, who will not bow to the power of his word. Pharaoh's people should furnish Israel with riches at their departure. In Pharaoh's tyranny and Israel's oppression, we see the miserable, abject state of sinners. However galling the yoke, they drudge on till the Lord sends redemption. With the invitations of the gospel, God sends the teaching of his Spirit. Thus are men made willing to seek and to strive for deliverance. Satan loses his power to hold them, they come forth with all they have and are, and apply all to the glory of God and the service of his church.