Exodus 3:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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."

NIV: And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

NASB: And He said, 'Assuredly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.'

CSB: He answered, "I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain."

NLT: God answered, 'I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.'

KJV: And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

NKJV: So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Moses has heard God's commission to lead Israel's exit from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 3:9–10). His first response is doubt and objection (Exodus 3:11). God answers Moses' doubt with the promise of His own presence. This echoes the sentiments of New Testament writers such as Paul, who noted, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

God also gives Moses the first of many signs meant to confirm this message. Moses is promised that he will successfully return with God's people to the very mountain where he is standing. Both promises—Israel's liberation and their return to this location—will be fulfilled later in the book of Exodus. God would certainly be with Moses when he returns to Egypt. The many plagues which take place through Moses' prophetic announcements will be further signs of God's divine judgment coming down upon the Egyptians (Exodus 7—12).

Horeb and Mount Sinai were the same area. Sinai will be where Moses receives the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21; Deuteronomy 4:10, 15; 5:2). Generations later, Elijah will escape to this same area after defeating the prophets of Baal and running from queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19).

Exodus 3:9–15 reveals God's commission of Moses as His spokesman. His great task is to lead Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. God provides reassurance in response to Moses' doubts. God also identifies Himself using terminology which will be crucial in both Jewish and Christian understanding of His nature. As a name, God uses the phrase "I am," indicating His eternal, uncreated, necessary, absolute existence. This connects to the Hebrew term YHWH, most often seen as Lord, Yahweh, or sometimes translated as Jehovah. Jesus will use this same phrasing in the New Testament.

Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law when he sees a miraculous sight: a bush which is on fire, but not burnt up. From this fire, God speaks to Moses, appointing him as the leader of the nation of Israel, whom God intends to free from Egyptian slavery. God identifies Himself in this passage using the famous terminology ''I am.'' Despite Moses' fears and doubts, God gives him a message to take to the elders of Israel, and eventually to Pharaoh himself.

Prior chapters in Exodus explained how the descendants of Abraham became a populous nation, but also one enslaved in Egypt. Exodus 3 describes the moment when God calls Moses to lead Israel out of slavery. This is accomplished through the miracle of the burning bush. This begins a dialogue between God and Moses. It includes messages for both Israel and Pharaoh which will continue into chapter 4.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.