Exo 3:1-4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Exod 3:1-4:28: 3:1–4:28 This section presents Moses’ call to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. It is divided into two subsections, 3:1–4:17 and 4:18-28 . The first deals with the call itself, while the second addresses the full implications of accepting that call. Moses was not presented with a mere vocational change; he faced an entire reorientation of his life. Summary for Exod 3:1-10: 3:1-10 In these verses, the stage is set for the reorientation of Moses’ life. 3:1 Sinai is the name usually used for the mountain where God later revealed himself in the covenant (see, e.g., 16:1 ; 19:1-2 ). Here and in 17:6 and 33:6 the Hebrew text uses the proper name Horeb. Both names presumably refer to the same mountain, so the NLT consistently uses Sinai.

Summary for Exod 3:1-4:28: 3:1–4:28 ^a This section presents Moses’ call to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. It is divided into two subsections, 3:1–4:17 ^b and 4:18-28 ^c. The first deals with the call itself, while the second addresses the full implications of accepting that call. Moses was not presented with a mere vocational change; he faced an entire reorientation of his life.
Summary for Exod 3:1-10: 3:1-10 ^d In these verses, the stage is set for the reorientation of Moses’ life. 3:1 ^e Sinai is the name usually used for the mountain where God later revealed himself in the covenant (see, e.g., 16:1 ^f; 19:1-2 ^g). Here and in 17:6 ^h and 33:6 ⁱ the Hebrew text uses the proper name Horeb. Both names presumably refer to the same mountain, so the NLT consistently uses Sinai.
3:2 ^j Technically, the angel of the Lord is the Lord’s officially authorized envoy, but the expression may be used more broadly of other visible manifestations of the Lord (see Gen 16:9-13 ^k; Judg 13:3 ^l, 6 ^m, 21-22 ⁿ).

• In the Bible, blazing fire often represents God’s transcendent holiness (see Exod 19:18 ^o; Gen 15:17 ^p; 1 Kgs 18:38-39 ^q; Isa 33:14 ^r).

• didn’t burn up: This may show that God does not wish to consume the vehicle that he sets ablaze for his purposes.
3:4 ^s Moses! Moses! God knows his people by name, and individuals are important to him.