Then Moses spake, in accents of the profoundest humility and fear, and said—
"Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
And the Voice replied—
"Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee,—lo! when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye and they shall serve God upon this mountain."
Then Moses answered the Angel of the flame, with that meekness and humbleness of heart which characterizes him—
"Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, 'The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;' and they shall say unto me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say unto them?"
The inquiry was made by him with the profoundest homage in the tones of his reverent voice, not as if he doubted God, but his brethren. Moreover, he now beheld, as it were face to face, the Lord God of heaven and earth, whom he had so long worshipped, and whose name to men, neither he nor any man knew. And I heard the Voice answer—with majesty inconceivable, so that my spirit failed before it—and say unto Moses—
"I am that I am. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'I AM hath sent me unto you!'"
Then after a brief silence, during which Moses fell upon his face and worshipped, the Voice from the midst of the fire said:
"Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my NAME forever; and this is my memorial unto all generations!' Go, and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying—