1. EXODUS: CREATION OF THE COVENANT COMMUNITY  Israel is in Egypt (Goshen)  The Blessing At Work(1:7)  A new king who does not “know” Joseph (1:8)  Ruthless Oppression Continued Blessing (1:11-14)

2. EXODUS: CREATION OF THE COVENANT COMMUNITY  The First Heroines  Shiprah and Puah  King’s New Policy: Ethnic Cleansing (1:16, 22)  The midwives feared God – disobeyed the king (1:17)

3. EXODUS: CREATION OF THE COVENANT COMMUNITY  Our Next Hero - Moses  Birth and Rescue  Mosheh (drawn out) raised in the palace of Pharaoh  Identification with his people – a failed Rescuer

4. EXODUS: CREATION OF THE COVENANT COMMUNITY  The Family at Risk Again  The Cry – HELP! (2:23-25)  The Call – burning bush Hineni – Here am I! (3:1-6)  The Commission (3:7-10) God Enters Into The Chaos

5. MOSES’ DIALOGUE WITH GOD Who am I? ANSWER: I AM WITH YOU Who are you? (what is your name?) ANSWER: I WILL BE WITH YOU HOWEVER I DECIDE TO BE WITH YOU

6. ‘ehye asher ‘ehye “I will be whoever I will be” “I will be”—I am with you (presence) “whoever…”—I will determine how (transcendence)

7. “I Will Be”  “He will be” Yahweh (the personal name of God) Yahweh (the personal name of God) In 1520 A.D. Petrus Galatinus created an artificial form of the name - Jehovah In 1520 A.D. Petrus Galatinus created an artificial form of the name - Jehovah In most contemporary English translations, the name is translated as LORD In most contemporary English translations, the name is translated as LORD

8. MOSES’ DIALOGUE WITH GOD What if they don’t believe me? ANSWER: ROD INTO A SERPENT AND LEPROUS HAND (I’LL BE WITH YOU TO DO WHAT YOU CANNOT DO BY YOURSELF) But I can’t speak! ANSWER: YOUR BROTHER AARON WILL BE YOUR MOUTH (“PROPHET”)— I WILL BE WITH YOUR MOUTH

9. YAHWEH So what’s in a name???? What is this Yahweh like??? Three key incidents…

10. A GOD WHO RESCUES Power Struggle – Yahweh vs. Pharaoh Power Struggle – Yahweh vs. Pharaoh Let my people go so they may worship me! Let my people go so they may worship me! Who is the LORD, that I should let Israel go? I do not know the LORD! Who is the LORD, that I should let Israel go? I do not know the LORD! The Plagues – judgment against a heart that is hardened (says no to God) The Plagues – judgment against a heart that is hardened (says no to God) Deliverance by the Sea (yam suph) Deliverance by the Sea (yam suph) PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD – an annual festival lasting 8 days PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD – an annual festival lasting 8 days

11. A GOD WHO PROVIDES THE WILDERNESS WHININGS THE WILDERNESS WHININGS Food—Manna (What is this?) and Quail Water—from springs and rocks Protection—against raiding “desert pirates”—Amalekites Guidance by being present with the people – Tabernacle – pillar of cloud/fire This event is celebrated annually in the week-long festival of TABERNACLES This event is celebrated annually in the week-long festival of TABERNACLES

12. A GOD WHO SHARES RELATIONSHIP COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI “I will be your God and you will be my people” Covenant : based upon ancient relationships in which a stronger person would rescue a weaker person from a dangerous situation and then would provide basic necessities; in return, the “client” commits his/her loyalty/faithfulness to the patron This event is celebrated annually in the festival of WEEKS or PENTECOST This event is celebrated annually in the festival of WEEKS or PENTECOST