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One day, Moses was keeping
Jethro's sheep by Mount Horeb. As he sat there quietly and alone, he
thought often of his poor brethren suffering in Egypt, and he asked God to
help and deliver them. Moses had much faith; he knew that God had
power to save the Israelites, and he believed that He would save them at
the right time. While Moses was thinking of all this, he saw a
bright light shining near him; and he looked up, and saw a bush burning
with fire. But the bush was not consumed; it did not wither away;
the leaves and branches did not turn black, and crumble to pieces; and
Moses wondered very much, and said, "Why is not the bush
consumed? I will go and see." So Moses went to look; but
when he came near, he heard a voice out of the bush, saying, "Moses,
Moses." Who called him? What made the bush burn, and why
was it not consumed? The voice said again, "The place where
thou standest is holy ground. I am God; the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob." "Then Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to
look upon God." But
the Lord did not come to hurt his servant; He came to comfort him, and to
make him and his poor brethren happy. The Lord said, "I have
seen my people's sorrow; I have heard their cry. I am come to send
thee to Pharaoh and thou shalt bring my people out of
Egypt." But Moses was very much afraid, and said, "Who am
I that I should go to Pharaoh?" It was not right of Moses to be
afraid when God sent him; he ought to have obeyed directly; but the Lord
was very kind and gentle, and He spoke again to comfort Moses. He
said, "I will be with thee; tell the people that I send thee.
If the king disobey my command, I have power to punish him; and I will
send plagues upon Egypt, and bring out my people safely." But
Moses was still unwilling to go, and said, "Perhaps the people will
not believe me." The Lord then told him to throw his rod upon
the ground. Moses obeyed, and it became a serpent; and he fled from
it for fear. But the Lord said, "Take it by the tail;" and
Moses caught it, and it did not bite nor hurt him, but became a rod again
in his hand directly. Then God told Moses to put his hand into his
bosom. Moses obeyed and his hand became covered with leprosy; but
God told him to put his hand again into his bosom, and in a moment it was
well. Then God told him to go and show these wonders to the people;
that they might believe that He had sent him. Was
Moses willing to go to Egypt now? No, he was still afraid, he said,
"Lord, I cannot speak well; my tongue is slow, and I have no
words." But the Lord said, "Who hath made man's
mouth? Who maketh the deaf, and the dumb, and the seeing, and the
blind? Have not I, the Lord? Go; obey my command, and I will
teach thee what thou shalt say." But
still Moses wished not to go. Then the Lord began to be angry, for
though he is very kind and patient with his people, yet He does not like
them to disobey His commands, nor to obey slowly and unwillingly.
But the Lord said to Moses, "Aaron thy brother may go with thee; he
can speak well; and I will teach you both what you shall do."
Then Moses obeyed: he was timid and fearful in himself, but the Lord
gave him strength and courage; so he went home, and took leave of Jethro,
and called his wife Zipporah, and his two sons, and put them upon an ass,
and returned to Egypt. Then God said to Aaron, who was living in
Egypt, "Go and meet Moses." So Aaron went into the
wilderness, and soon saw Moses and his family coming; and he ran, and
kissed him. Moses had much to tell Aaron about the wonders God had
shown him; and he asked Aaron to go with him to the king, and command him
to send away the Israelites. Aaron was willing to go; so they both
went, and called the elders of the Israelites, and told them that God had
seen their sorrows, and was going to deliver them. Then they bowed
down their heads, and worshiped.
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