That God talked to Moses?

This story is called... 

Moses and the Burning Bush

Moses grew up as a royal prince of Egypt, but  he never forgot where he came from or that he was an Israelite.  Moses  saw how badly the Israelites were being treated by the Egyptians.  One day he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave and cried for the slave-driver to stop!  But the man continued to beat the slave.  Moses became so angry that he struck and killed the Egyptian.

When the Pharaoh found out how Moses had taken the side of the slave and acted against the Egyptians, he sent his soldiers to kill Moses.  Moses ran away and fled into the desert to a place called Midian.  A kind priest offered him food and a place to stay.  Moses stayed and married the priest's daughter named Zipporah, and together they had a son.

Meanwhile, God heard the cries of the Israelites and saw how badly they were being treated.  He decided that he would save them from their bondage.

One day, when Moses was out watching sheep he came to Sinai, the holy mountain where he saw a bush that was on fire.  He thought this was very strange--the bush was covered with flames, but it was not burning.  

Moses heard the voice of God coming from the burning bush.  God called to Moses and said, "Moses!  Moses!  

"Here I am", said Moses.  God heard the voice say that Moses should take off his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground and that it was God who was speaking to him. 

Moses was very afraid to look at God and he hid his face in his hands.

He was  God then said that Moses should go back to Egypt and tell the Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free so that they can return to Israel.  God said that He would be with him and help him and that Moses would lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 

Moses asked God, "Why would the Pharaoh listen to me?"  

In answer, God turned the stick that Moses had been carrying into a wriggling snake.  God then told Moses to pick it up and when Moses did so, the snake turned back into a stick again.  God said to Moses that if you perform this change in front of the Pharaoh as well as other wonders, the Pharaoh will pay attention to you.

Doing as God had told him, Moses went to Egypt to try to save the Israelites from slavery.

Moses & the burning bush image courtesy of Phillip Martin at http://www.phillipmartin.info/clipart/homepage.htm

Additional images courtesy of  Christians Unite @ www.christiansunite.com
and Microsoft Clips Online.

Burning Bush - Colour on line or print.