While Moses was a shepherd in Midian and was was looking after his flock, he heard the voice of God calling to him from a bush. The bush was burning, but miraculously, the leaves were still green and unharmed. He heard the voice tell him from the bush:

I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob . . . . I have surely seen the suffering of My people in Egypt and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. So I have come to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, a land flowing with milk and honey . . . . Therefore come now and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

Moses objects, citing a speech defect he acquired while in the palace, and so Moses' brother,Aaron, is appointed to serve as his spokesman. Moses then goes to Egypt, and Moses and Aaron assemble the elders of Israel to tell them that the time of their redemption has come.


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story