Exodus 3:10-12
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This is more than just God giving Moses a job; it's a profound invitation. "Come, I will send you" highlights that God isn't just assigning a task, but personally going with Moses, drawing him into His own redemptive work. It underscores that this isn't just about freeing a people, but about God actively intervening in history.
Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God reveals Himself in the burning bush and reassures Moses, He issues a direct command: Moses is to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This marks the beginning of Moses' commission, shifting from divine revelation to a specific mission, even though Moses expresses significant doubt and reluctance about his ability to carry it out.
God doesn't just ask; He commissions. When the Almighty speaks, His words carry the weight of His own power and presence.
God's command to Moses, 'I will send you,' is more than just an assignment; it's a divine endorsement. Notice how the text emphasizes God's initiative and His personal involvement. He isn't sending Moses out alone but as His representative, equipped with His authority and power. This echoes throughout Scripture, showing that God's callings are always accompanied by His presence and provision. Think of it as an official delegation from the King of Kings.
God's heart aches for His people, even when they are enslaved. His deep love and remembrance fuel His desire for their freedom.
The phrase 'my people, the children of Israel' reveals God's intimate and enduring relationship with Israel, despite their current suffering and oppression. Even though they had been in bondage for generations, God still claimed them as His own. This speaks volumes about God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. He sees their affliction, hears their cries, and remembers His people. His plan for their deliverance is rooted in His deep affection and unwavering commitment to them.
Freedom isn't just an escape; it's a movement guided by God's purpose from the place of bondage to a land of promise.
The ultimate goal of God's intervention is not merely to remove Israel from Egypt, but to 'bring them forth.' This implies a purposeful movement, an exodus with a destination. Egypt represents slavery, oppression, and sin, while 'bringing them forth' signifies liberation, restoration, and a journey toward God's intended plan. Moses' mission, therefore, is to be the instrument of this divinely orchestrated liberation, leading God's people from a place of despair to a future of hope and covenant relationship with Him.
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Understand the original words
Paroh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme ruler of Egypt, often depicted as a symbol of worldly power and hostility toward God and His people.
shalach · Hebrew Verb
The act of choosing and commissioning an individual to go on behalf of another to fulfill a specific divine mission or task.
elohim · Hebrew Noun
A supreme being or deity; the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, recognized as the singular object of worship in biblical monotheism.
Par'oh · Hebrew Noun
The title given to the Egyptian monarch, representing the highest human authority and often viewed as a divine or semi-divine figure in the Egyptian worldview. In the Bible, Pharaoh frequently functions as a symbol of worldly power in opposition to the kingdom of God.
bene yisra'el · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Used in a corporate sense to refer to the descendants of Jacob; the chosen people through whom God promised to bless the nations and establish His covenant.
'ot · Hebrew Noun
A supernatural manifestation or a specific event intended to confirm the truthfulness of a divine message or the commission of a messenger.
abad · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of religious worship, service, or duty performed by a creature toward the Creator; it implies total devotion and allegiance.
This verse marks the divine commissioning of Moses, following his long exile and just as the Israelites' suffering reached its peak. It underscores God's initiative in choosing a reluctant leader to fulfill ancient promises.
~1446 BC
Moses's Flight to Midian
After killing an Egyptian overseer, Moses flees Egypt and becomes a shepherd in Midian. This exile lasts 40 years, shaping him from a prince into a humble shepherd.
~1407 BC— this verse
Burning Bush Encounter
While tending sheep at Mount Horeb, Moses encounters God in a burning bush, receiving his divine commission to rescue the Israelites from slavery. This is the pivotal moment of the verse.
~1407 BC
Pharaoh's Reign
The oppressive reign of the Pharaoh of the Exodus, likely one of the Ramesside kings, continues. His dynasty's harsh policies have enslaved the Israelites for generations.
~1407 BC
Israelites' Suffering in Egypt
The Israelites have endured generations of brutal enslavement in Egypt, their cries for relief reaching God.
~1407 BC
God's Promise to Abraham
God remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, setting the stage for the deliverance of their descendants as promised.
This passage parallels Moses' calling in Exodus, featuring a divine encounter and a reluctant prophet who is nevertheless commissioned for a crucial task.
Jeremiah 1:4-10Jeremiah also expresses reluctance when called by God to prophesy to His people, echoing Moses' initial hesitation in the face of a daunting mission.
Matthew 4:18-22This passage shows Jesus calling fishermen to follow Him, highlighting God's pattern of choosing unlikely individuals for significant divine purposes, much like Moses was called from shepherding.
Acts 7:30-34Stephen recounts the story of Moses and the burning bush, emphasizing God's awareness of His people's suffering and His intervention to deliver them through Moses.
bensonExodus 3:10: "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."
Exodus 3:10 . I will send thee — And the same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert to be the planter of the Jewish Church, afterward fetched fishermen from their ships to be the planters of the Christian Church, that the excellency of the power might be of God.
calvinExodus 3:10-14: "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt."
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Et ait Moses ad Deum, Ecce ubi ego venero ad filios Israel, et dixero eis, Deus patrum vestrorum misit me ad vos: tunc si d…
This is more than just God giving Moses a job; it's a profound invitation. "Come, I will send you" highlights that God isn't just assigning a task, but personally going with Moses, drawing him into His own redemptive work. It underscores that this isn't just about freeing a people, but about God actively intervening in history.
After God reveals Himself in the burning bush and reassures Moses, He issues a direct command: Moses is to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This marks the beginning of Moses' commission, shifting from divine revelation to a specific mission, even though Moses expresses significant doubt and reluctance about his ability to carry it out.
After God reveals Himself in the burning bush and reassures Moses, He issues a direct command: Moses is to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This marks the beginning of Moses' commission, shifting from divine revelation to a specific mission, even though Moses expresses significant doubt and reluctance about his ability to carry it out.
"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with…" — This is more than just God giving Moses a job; it's a profound invitation. "Come, I will send you" highlights that God isn't just assigning a task, but personally going with Moses, drawing him into H…
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Last reviewed October 2026
