After forty years in the wilderness, Moses led his father-in-law's flock to Horeb, the mountain of God. “And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.” When Moses turned aside to look, God called him by name: “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
God said, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Then He opened His heart: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.” God sees, God hears, God knows — and God comes down to deliver.
Moses answered with excuses. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” God replied, “I will certainly be with you.” When Moses asked what name to give the people, God revealed Himself: “I AM WHO I AM.” He is the self-existent, unchanging God who needs nothing and no one. Centuries later Jesus would say, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
God gave Moses signs — a rod that became a serpent, a hand made leprous and then restored. Still Moses said, “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The LORD answered, “Who has made man's mouth?… Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” God gave Aaron to speak with him, and Moses returned to Egypt with the rod of God in his hand.