Study Desk

And when she had a son, Moses said, "I will name him Gershom, since I am a foreigner in this country."

When the Lord saw Moses coming near the bush, he called him by name, and Moses answered, "Here I am."

I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses was afraid to look at God, and so he hid his face.

Now go to the king! I am sending you to lead my people out of his country.

But Moses said, "Who am I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt?"

God replied, "I will be with you. And you will know that I am the one who sent you, when you worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt."

God said to Moses: I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord , whose name is "I Am," has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.

Moses replied, "I have never been a good speaker. I wasn't one before you spoke to me, and I'm not one now. I am slow at speaking, and I can never think of what to say."

But the Lord answered, "Who makes people able to speak or makes them deaf or unable to speak? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Don't you know that I am the one who does these things?

Here is my message for Israel: "I am the Lord ! And with my mighty power I will punish the Egyptians and free you from slavery.

I will bring you into the land that I solemnly promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it will be yours. I am the Lord !"

he said, "I am the Lord . Tell the king of Egypt everything I say to you."

But Moses answered, "You know I am a very poor speaker, and the king will never listen to me."

The Lord said: I am going to let your brother Aaron speak for you. He will tell your message to the king, just as a prophet speaks my message to the people.

When this happens, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord .

"All right," Moses answered. "You choose the time when I am to pray for the frogs to stop bothering you, your officials, and your people, and for them to leave your houses and be found only in the river."

But I am certain that neither you nor your officials really fear the Lord God."

I did this because I want you to tell your children and your grandchildren about my miracles and about my harsh treatment of the Egyptians. Then all of you will know that I am the Lord .

The Lord said to Moses: I am going to punish the king of Egypt and his people one more time. Then the king will gladly let you leave his land, so that I will stop punishing the Egyptians. He will even chase you out.

That same night I will pass through Egypt and kill the first-born son in every family and the first-born male of all animals. I am the Lord , and I will punish the gods of Egypt.