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.' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 3:9-14
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.