When Aaron started out from Goshen to search in the wilderness for his lost brother, Moses was leading his flock to a green pasture near the foot of Mount Horeb. How different Moses looked now from the young man who had once lived in Pharaoh’s palace! No longer he wore the princely robes of Egypt. Now his dress was the coarse mantle of a shepherd, and he carried a long shepherd’s staff, or rod, in his hand. Day after day and year after year he had cared for his father-in-law’s sheep, leading them to fresh pasture-lands and to abundant water-supplies. The sun and the wind had tanned his face and hands, while the years had whitened his flowing hair.
Although when a young man Moses had learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians until he became one of the greatest persons the world has ever known, yet he did not think himself great, nor wise. He was contented to fill the humble place of a shepherd. He was glad to live in the great wilderness, far away from the large cities and beautiful grounds of Pharaoh’s palace. Here he could see all around him the wonderful things that God had made. He learned much about that country—its pasture-lands and watering-places. He often studied the trees and bushes and flowers. Because he was interested in these things, God spoke to him one day from a bush.
The sheep were feeding on the rich pasture and Moses was looking about at the beauties and wonders of nature when presently he saw a flame of fire burst forth from a bush on the mountain-side. He watched, expecting to see the bush destroyed by the fire; but the flame kept burning, and no harm came to the bush. “What a strange sight!” thought Moses; “I must take a closer look at this unusual bush, which fire can not harm.” As he started forward, he heard a voice speak to him from the flame. “Moses! Moses!” the voice called; and Moses replied, “Here am I.”
“Do not come near the bush,” the voice said. “Put off the shoes from your feet, for you are standing on holy ground.”
Moses understood at once that God was speaking to him; for the people in those lands always remove their shoes when they approach a sacred place, and perhaps Moses had done likewise when he stood before an altar to worship God. So he stooped down quickly to loosen and remove his sandals. Then he hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon the flame again.
“I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,” the voice began once more, “and I have seen the afflictions of my people, the Israelites, in Egypt. I have heard their cries, and I know their sorrows. Now I am come to deliver them from the Egyptians and to bring them into the land that I promised to their fathers.”
No doubt Moses was glad to hear this good news, for he still loved his own people. ’ He had thought of them many times as he led his flock to and fro across the desert plains. How like a flock were they, in the hands of a cruel shepherd!
But the voice continued to speak: “Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people out of Egypt.”
Although when a young man Moses had expected some day to rescue his people from Pharaoh’s, cruel oppression, now he did not feel himself great enough to undertake such a task. “Who am I,” he asked the Lord, “that I should bring my people out of Egypt? This is too great a work for me to do.”
“I will surely go with you and help do the great work,” answered the voice from the flame. “And when you bring the Israelites to this mountain, where they shall serve me, then you shall know that certainly I have been with you.”
Moses feared that his people would not believe God had sent him to be their deliverer. He said, “When I go to the Israelites and tell them you have sent me, it may be they will have forgotten you. If they ask, “Who is this God?’ what shall I say?”
And God said, “Tell them that my name is I AM, the One who is always living. And tell them that I AM has sent you to help them. Do not be afraid, for they will believe you. Then call together the elders of your families, who are the leaders of your people, and go with them to Pharaoh and tell him, “Our God, the God of the Hebrews, the Israelites, has met us, and now let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness to worship him.’ At first the king will refuse to let you go; but after I have shown my power in Egypt he will send you out of the land.”
Still Moses Was fearful that his people would not believe God had sent him except he could show them some sign, for a proof. So he asked God to give him such a. sign, and God said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
“It is a rod,” answered Moses.
God told him to throw the rod on the ground, and Moses obeyed. Instantly the rod was turned into a snake, and when Moses saw it he was afraid, and ran from it.
But God said, “Do not be afraid; but take hold of its tail.”
Moses obeyed again, and the snake became once more a rod in his hand.
Then God told Moses to put his hand into his bosom—under his mantle, and take it out again. When Moses did so his hand was changed until it became like the hand of a leper, white as snow and covered with a scaly crust. Moses was frightened, because leprosy is a dreadful disease. But God said, “Put your hand into your bosom once more,” and when Moses obeyed his hand became like the other, with a healthy skin. God intended that Moses could use this sign for a second proof to his people and to the Egyptians that God had sent him. God further told Moses that if they should refuse to believe both these signs he was to take water from the river and pour it upon the ground before them. This water God would cause to turn into blood, and this would be the third sign.
Moses still felt unwilling to go. He told God that he could not speak well, and asked God to choose some one else for the work. But God had chosen Moses for the work, and he said to Moses, “Am I not the Lord, who made man’s mouth? Go, and I will teach you what to say.”
When Moses continued to ask that some one else should go in his stead, God said, “I will send your brother, Aaron, With you, and he will speak the words you tell him to speak. Even now he is coming into the wilderness to meet you.”
At last Moses was ready to obey God. He led his flock back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said, “Let me return to my people in Egypt, and see if they are yet alive.” And Jethro said, “Go in peace.” God spoke again to Moses in the land of Midian, and told him that those who had sought his life in Egypt were now dead. Then Moses took his wife and sons and started toward the land of Goshen, carrying in his hand the rod through which God had performed a miracle. On his way he met Aaron, and together the two brothers returned to Egypt.
Moses told Aaron all the words God had spoken to him and the signs God had given. Then they called the elders of Israel and told them that God had sent Moses to be their deliverer. When the people heard the words of the Lord and saw the signs God had given, they believed and were glad. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped God because he had heard their prayers.