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Patriarchs and Prophets
out, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of
God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
As Moses waited in reverent awe before God the words continued:
“I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt,
and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know
their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of
the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land
and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.... Come now
therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring
forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”
Amazed and terrified at the command, Moses drew back, saying,
“Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth
the children of Israel out of Egypt?” The reply was, “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.”
Moses thought of the difficulties to be encountered, of the blind-
ness, ignorance, and unbelief of his people, many of whom were
almost destitute of a knowledge of God. “Behold,” he said, “when I
come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of
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your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is
His name? what shall I say unto them?” The answer was—
“I AM THAT I AM.” “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Moses was commanded first to assemble the elders of Israel, the
most noble and righteous among them, who had long grieved because
of their bondage, and to declare to them a message from God, with a
promise of deliverance. Then he was to go with the elders before the
king, and say to him—
“The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us
go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we
may sacrifice to the Lord our God.”
Moses was forewarned that Pharaoh would resist the appeal to
let Israel go. Yet the courage of God’s servant must not fail; for the
Lord would make this the occasion to manifest His power before the
Egyptians and before His people. “And I will stretch out My hand, and
smite Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in the midst thereof:
and after that he will let you go.”