Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/174

 the bush  was  on  fire  and  was  not  burnt. He said:  “I  will  go near  to  see  why  the  bush  is  not  burnt.”  As  Moses  drew  near, the Lord  cried  out  to  him  from  the  burning  bush:  “Moses,  Moses!” And he  answered:  “Here  I am.”  And  God  said:  “Come  not

nigh hither. Put off  the  shoes  from  thy  feet;  for  the  place whereon thou  standest  is  holy  ground. I am the  God  of  thy father, the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God of Jacob.”

Moses, in  awful  reverence,  hid his  face,  and  dared  not  look at God. The Lord  said  to  him:  “I  have  seen  the  affliction  of my  people  in  Egypt,  and  I am  come  to  deliver  them  out  of  the hands of  the  Egyptians,  and  to  bring  them  out  of  that  land  into a land flowing  with  milk  and  honey.”  The  Lord  further  told Moses that  he  should  go  to  Pharao  to  demand  the  liberation  of the  children  of  Israel. Moses answered:  “Who  am  I  that  I should  go  to  Pharao,  and  should  bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel out of  Egypt?”  The  Lord  said:  “I  will  be  with  thee.”

Moses objected  that  the  people  would  not  believe  him,  but would ask  who  sent  him. Then God  said  to  Moses:  “I  am who  am. Thus shalt  thou  say  to  the  children  of  Israel: He who  is, hath  sent  me  to  you.”  Moses  answered  and  said:  “They will not  believe  me,  nor  hear  my  voice; but  they  will  say: The Lord hath  not  appeared  to  thee.”  Then  God  asked  Moses: “What is  it  that  thou  holdest  in  thy  hand?”  Moses  answered: “A rod.”   The  Lord  then  told  Moses  to  cast  his  rod  upon  the