Definition: 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, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 3:16. It's a really important passage about God’s direct involvement with the Israelites. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is telling Moses to bring together the leaders of Israel and tell them something very significant. Here’s a more detailed explanation: “Go, and gather the elders…” : This tells us that God wants Moses to do something . He’s giving him a task. “Elder” means a leader or elder, so it's about those who are important to the group. “…of Israel together…” : This refers to all the Israelites – the people God chose to be his children. It’s a whole group of them. “And say unto them…” : This is a command from God. He’s telling Moses to speak to them. “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob…” : This is crucial . It's saying that this wasn’t just any god; it was God’s God – the God who had promised to bless those people through their ancestors. This includes the Israelites’ original families (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). “appeared unto me…” : This is where it gets a little more mysterious. “Appeared” means God showed himself. It’s not just a visual meeting; it's a direct, personal encounter. What did God show him? The verse says that God saw what was happening to the Israelites in Egypt. He saw them suffering under slavery and oppression. This is the beginning of God’s plan to free them from that situation. So, the whole point of this verse is a message of hope and reassurance. It tells us: 1) God cares about his people, 2) He knows about their past, and 3) He's actively working to help them escape their difficult circumstances. It’s a foundational moment in the story of the Israelites’ journey into the Promised Land. In short, it's a powerful declaration that God is watching over his people and has a plan for their future. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Discuss its significance in relation to other parts of the Bible? Give you another example of a similar message from scripture?