Don't take it if it is not mine

Exodus 22:1-17
Protection of  property.
Civil laws: injury, theft and damage to property.
Theft have to pay five or four for ox and sheep.
Be declare guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
Safekeeping and borrows animals lost or die depends on the situation to pay back or not.
Why?
God give the law to deal with the living and the property of Israel.
There are penalty to prevent people to do wrong things.
How?
Respect each one and his property, do not get it if it is not mine.

A high view of human life

Exodus 21:18-36
A high view of human life is demonstrated by fixed, limited penalties - one crime, one punishment.
These are the rulings of a God who cares: who is 'full of compassion'(22:27)
The legislation looks forward to the settled agricultural life of Canaan - Israel's rebelliousness had not yet condemned the people to 40 years in the Sinai peninsula.
The section may be summarized as follows:
General instructions about worship.20:22-26
Civil laws: (21:1-23:13) the right of slaves; manslaughter and injury to human life;
These regulations fill out in detail the summary of 20:1-7
She shall not go free: Her master still has responsibility for his slave-wife.
Revenge/retaliation has strict limits: a life for a life, not an ongoing blood-feud. This is the famous lex talionis(復仇法): a ruling for judges. In the area of personal relationships, Jesus ruled out vengeance altogether. the law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offence committed in kind and degree. "the lex talionis of feud(世仇) violence and blood money"
How?
Respect the human life for each person!

The rules for Jewish servant

Exodus 21:1~17
The rules of Jewsh servant.
This section, known as'the book of the covenant', is the olest record we have of Jewish law.
It consists of'judgments'-i.e. case-law-and 'statutes', straightforward commands.
Although similar in form to other ancient-code of Western Asia, the Jewish code has severaldistinctive featues:
The whole code rests on the authority of God, not of a king.
There is no division between civil and religious law. Most oriental codes deal with legal matters only:morals and religion belong elsewhere.
In the Bible legal, moral and religious laws are inseparable,showing God's concern for life as a whole.
There is one law for all, whatever a person's status. Regulation protecting thr weak and helpless are particularly striking.
How?
God's law concern for life as a whole. God cares everyone on the earth.

Ten Commanments

Exodus20:1~26
The ten commandments.
For I am the Lord,your God.
Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.
In the beginning,God spoke the words of life. Now God speak the words for living.
This summary and climax of God 's covenant-agreement with his people sets out a basic ethical norm application to all people in all ages.
The first four'words' concern people's relationship to God, the remaining six their relationship to one another.
As Jesus summarized them, the commandments are all about loving God and loving our 'neighbor'.
They show God's concern for the whole of life. God sets the standards in famiily relationship, regard for human life,sex, property, speech and thought. God made us who else can lay down the best way to live?
Written on stone tablets, preserved in the Ark of the Covenant, these ten'words' were th basic of Israel's law. In form they follow the standard pattern of Near Eastern treaties current in the 13th centuryBC, particularly those between vassals and their overlords.
How?
Honor the name of God, will be the blessing to us.

Set it apart as holy for God is holy

Exodus 19:16-25
Set it apart as holy.
There was thunder and lighting, with cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
Thunder, fire, earthquake and lightning herald(先鋒) God's presence and demonstrate his power.
The Lord God, holy, awesome, unapproachable, speaks.
Why?
God is Holy so set it apart as holy when we come to Him.
Fear the Lord for He is powerful and great, he rules over the whole universe.
The priests dis not exist as an order until after Sinai.
How?
Set my life apart as holy before the Lord!

You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

Exodus 19:1-15
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
As God promised, Moses brings God's people to him at Mt Sinai. Here God will establish his covenant with the nation.
Why?
God is like the father of Israel brought them on the eagles' wings.
How great the people who keep God's covenant, them will be kingdom of priests for God and a holy nation. It is an honor to be a priest of God and be a people of God's nation. To be a Christian is an honor.
God is Holy so have to be consecrated ourselves to come to the Lord.
Be ready: do not go near a woman - The male ejection of semen, and female menstruation, rendered a man or woman ritually unclean.
How?
We are the priests of God's kingdom so we have to keep God word and obey God's covenant.

Select fear God and trustworthy men as officials

Exodus 18:13-27
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show hem the way to live and the duties the are to perform. Select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds fifties an tens.
The burden of leadership is heavy, and Jethro's practical suggestion for reorganization and delegation(委託) is a sound one(一個合理的). Jethro, although a non-Israelite, is reckoned(推想，估計) a godly man. He is welcomed and his advice taken.
Why?
How to share the duties to others and make all people will go home satisfied. 1)Teach them the decrees and laws  2)Select capable men who fear God and trustworthy; hate dishonest gain; be an officials over different groups.
How?
Select capable men from people to be an officials is needed reorganization and delegation system. The requirement are fear God and trustworthy.

The Lord is greater than any other gods

Exodus 18:1-12
Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, said '"Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh...Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly."
Moses's two sons, their names are
Gershom: I have become an alien in a foreign land.
Eliezer: My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.
In religious matters, however, he learns from Moses.
It is not clear when Zipporah returned home - perhaps soon after the incident recorded in 4:24-26 (circumcision by Zipporah took a flint knife)
Why?
Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, and he was priest of Median who admitted that the Lord is greater than all other gods, so he also brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God.
Moses's two sons means his significant changed in he life.
How?
The Lord is greater than any other gods.

The Lord is my Banner

Exodus 17:8-16
Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner(Jehovahnissi). For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord.
Joshua ( the man who will be Moses' successor) leads a picked force against the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe descended from Esau. But it is God who gives the victory, as Moses lifts his hands in prayer.
The Amalekites may have been driving the Israelites away from a fertile oasis.
The record may have been in the lost Book of the Wars of the Lord. After Saul's "holy war" the Amalekites are hardly heard of.
Why?
For Israelite did not have any experience of war, even had not enough sword to fight, their winning is the Lord did for them. So prayer is more important then man's capability. Joshua needs to lead people to fight but the victory is belong to the Lord.
Prayer before any fight or work! God's blessing is essential base.
How?
The Lord is my Banner, through the Prayer to make it.

Massah(testing) and Meribah(quarreling)

Exodus 17:1-7
And he called the place Massah(testing) and Meribah(quarreling) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?
Water from the rock: God shows Moses the place. Sinai limestone is known to retain moisture.
This incident, an the names Massah and Meribah, became a byword for rebelliousness.
'Test' is a neutral word in Hebrew, like English 'tempt'.
People of Israelite quarreling and testing the Lord for the lining food. This is a common challenge of our faith to the Lord in daily life.
Actually our daily life provision is most easy to the Lord Almighty. The more importance is the faith to the Lord.
How?
God is my rock, my salvation and my strength, when I obey his commandment and honor his holy name, God will enough grace and needs.

God provides Manna to his people

Exodus 15:22~16:35
They could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. )So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron for not food.
God gave them bread, The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
IN the desert people are soon thirsty and hungry - and mutinous. It is not long before the complaints start. There had been plenty of fish to eat in Egypt, and fruit and vegetables - and no shortage of water.
Here God will provide in a way that teaches his people obedience and daily dependence on him.
Why?
Marah  a place of bitter with complain.
Elim: a place with twelve springs and tree in desert.
How?
God provides his people in new way which is not the way of man can do.

God is my strength, my song and my salvation.

Exodus 15:1-21
Moses and the Israelites sane the song to the Lord.
The Lord is my strength and my defense [song]; he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
If ever a victory deserves is be recorded for posterity this one does.
For Moses leads the people in a great paean(歡樂歌) of triumph; God has saved Israel; he has destroyed their enemy.
Then Miriam and all the women take up the refrain(副歌), and dance for joy.The song is a fine example of ancient Semitic poetry.
Why?
One more time here define the position of the Lord in our life.
The Lord is my strength: When I am weak, God is my strength, let me can stand firm.
The Lord is my defense or my song: God help me to defense enemy, to face the challenge, sing a song to praise God may calm down my worry.
The Lord is my salvation: God redeems me, rescue me from the pit or net of enemy.
Lord is a warrior: God fights enemy before me, I can do is follow Him and be still.
How?
Praise the Lord, he is my strength, my song and my salvation. I will exalt him.

You need only be still

Exodus 14:1-31
Moses said to the people: Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.
Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. God said to Moses.
When the Israelites saw the great power the lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
Hemmed in between sea and mountains, with water before them and Pharaoh's forces at their backs, the people of Israel meet their first big test of faith - and they panic, crying out to God and accusing Moses of betrayal. But God drives back the waters so that they can cross in safety, sending a wall of water rushing down upon Pharaoh's forces, and Israel learns the truth of Moses' words: "The Lord will fight for you; there is no need for you to do anything"
Pharaoh is not said to have drowned, nor are all Egypt's chariots lost. Victory is won at Pharaoh's expense, and the detachment which pursues the runaway slave into the water is swept away - a bad enough blow.
Why?
God will fight for you, God is my deliverance; I need only be still.
1) Do not be afraid 2) Stand firm 3) Be still 4) Keep move on are the rule to serve the Lord.
How?
God is my deliverance, my fortress, and my way. Trust in Him and fear Him.

The first offspring belong to the Lord

Exodus 13:1-22
Give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.
Redeem every firstborn among your sons. It is means 'With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.'
God has mercy to his people so did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, they might change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war. So led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.
By day God went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Why?
God let Israelite observe this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. To remember what God's mighty hand brought them out of slavery.
The first born offspring are belong to the Lord, devote the first one to the Lord, such as devote the first hour a day to the Lord, reading the Bible.
Redeem: It is clear from Genesis 13, where God provides a ram in place of Isaac, that God never wanted the sacrifice of a child, no matter what went on in Canaan. And in Numbers 3:11-13 God chooses the Levites to represent all of Israel's firstborn: 'they are mine'.
How?
Remember the grace and mighty hand of God, God can do anything and God is good to us.

Freedom needs ransom to make it, Jesus paid for us

Exodus 12:29-51
Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt. Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil(守夜) to honor the Lord for the generations to come.
Passover restrictions: It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. It means the Jesus on the cross, bring his people out from sins.
Just as God foretold (Genesis 15:13-14), after four centuries in a foreign land Israel is free. The precise length of time may be in debate: the great, indisputable fact is God's deliverance. The journey to the border begins.
But first there are further instructions about how the Passover is to be celebrated, who may join in, and where it is to take place.
The events are to be further commemorated in two ways:

• For a seven-day period after Passover the people are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder of hasty departure from Egypt.
• As Israel's freedom has been purchased by the death of the firstborn of Egypt, the nation's firstborn belong in a special sense to God and are to be 'bought back'.

Why?
God kept vigil in that night to bring them out of Egypt so Israelite are to keep vigil to honor the Lord, it is make sense to do it. Keep spiritual alert in this generation to prevent the evil.
God's word are always right and correct. His promise never failed.
How?
The firstborn are belong to the Lord in a special sense to God. Freedom needs ransom to make it and Jesus paid for us.

The lasting ordinance to remember God has done for us

Exodus 12:15-28
Passover has seven days eat bread made without yeast. Do not work at all on these days except to prepare food for everyone to eat.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. In first month from the evening of the 14th days until evening of the 21th days.
Israelites obeyed what Moses commanded them.
Why?
After nine plagues people of Israel acknowledges the power of the Lord.
The flat unleavened bread recalls the haste of their departure.
These feasts are to be remember for Israel, became their lasting ordinance for them and their descendants.
How?
Remember what God has done for us and for me!

The meaning of Passover

Exodus 12:1-14
The Passover from first month, the tenth day until the fourteenth day of the month.
If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must taken share one with their nearest neighbor. It means be one in the Lord.
Passover is new year. Most importance is the lamb.
Joyful festival is the day of Pentecost. But New Year is the day of dead, have to alert to these days.
Blood is not the symbol but means the redeem of Jesus.
Eating means connection to the Lord, means baptized  and combine with the Lord.
If do not close to the Lord will week and powerless.
The way to close the Lord is waiting. Deeper and longer prayer needs prepared heart.
A new feast is instituted, and a new year begun (The time is March/April).
The Passover lamb or kid, barbecued over an ope fire in a pit, speaks of God's protection and provision for his people - Israel if God's firstborn.
The bitter herbs remind them of all their suffering in Egypt.
The flat unleavened bread recalls the haste of their departure (no time to use yeast, 'leaven', ad wait for the bread to rise).
How?
Remember the meaning of Passover and the Jesus blood shed for me.

God is good and trustworthy to his people

Exodus 11:1-10
The Plague on the firstborn. the Lord had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors fro articles of silver and gold."
About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn cattle as well.
Preliminaries are over: God's warning is about to be realized. This is the end of the road for Pharaoh and his people. But for Israel it is the beginning. This is a day to remember down the ages; when God dealt death to the firstborn sons of Egypt, but spared and freed his own people.
Was it literally 'all' the firstborn, or the best of the young, including Pharaoh's own son? Was the bubonic plague(鼠疫) or poliomyelitis(脊髓灰質炎) God's instruments? We don not know. But the Egyptian were devastated.
Why?
Pharaoh's heart was hardened so he won't listen the last warning plague of the firstborn.
God bring his people not only freedom but also prosperity.
How?
God is good and God is trustworthy to his people.

There is darkness without the Lord

Exodus 10:21-29
The plague of Darkness. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
For three days the light of the sin is blotted out by 'thickness'(probably a khamsin duststorm)
Why?
Without God there is darkness.
The plagues occurred over a period of six months to a year. In each case God chose to use natural disorders to confound Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt.
He caused the 'Nile-god' to bring ruin, not prosperity; the frogs to bring disease instead of fruitfulness; the power of Re, the sun-god, was blotted out.
The whole sequence of events follows a logical pattern which could have started with unusually high flooding of the Nile, bring down thick red clay from Ethiopia or red algae(藻類) which polluted the water.
However it happened, this was no mere 'chance' - God was demonstrating his absolute control. He distinguished between his people and the Egyptians.
He controlled the extent and the areas affected by each plague. He announced the timing of each, and could all a halt at any time in answer to prayer.
How?
The Lord has absolute control in nature and all in universe. God listen to our prayer and answer at any time He decides. The Lord bring light into the darkness.

Plague of Locusts

Exodus 10:1-20
The Lord performed so many miraculous signs that you may know that I am the Lord.
How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?
Pharaoh's officials agreed let the people of Israel go to worship the Lord. Pharaoh said no! have only the men go and worship the Lord.
Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the Lord made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; they invade all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.
The locust in the internal sense is there meant the falsity which vastates the extremes.  For as before shown, the natural with man is interior and exterior; the falsity which is in the extremes of the natural, being meant by the locust, and the evil therein by the caterpillar(毛毛蟲). As by the locust is meant the falsity which is in the extremes of the natural, therefore it is said that the locust would be brought "into the border, and would cover the surface of the earth; and afterward (verse 14), the locust went up upon the land of Egypt, and rested in all the border of Egypt, and it covered the surface of the whole land. By the border and by the surface" are signified the extremes and ultimates in which the interiors rest, that is, terminate.
Why?
People's heart is harden, so this question will asked "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before the Lord?" Do you not yet realize the xxx is ruined?
Pharaoh to be a king over Egypt, but refuse turn to the Lord after these disaster happened over his land.
Falsity are full and cover this land, but Christian should be a salt, keep the society won't be terminated.
How?
Terminate the falsity and says the truth in this world, it is our job in this world.

Rain of hail

Exodus 9:13-35
The Plague of hail: Moses stretch out to his hand toward the sky so that hail fall over Egypt. Through Egypt hail stuck everything in the fields - both men and animals.
Pharaoh knew that he has sinned.
Hail and thunderstorms ruins the flax and barley crops - but not wheat and spelt, which have not yet grown. And those Egyptians who take not of God's warning remain safe.
Why?
The signification of a rain of hail, is falsities from evil destroying the truths and goods of faith, thus the things of the church.
A rain in general signifies a blessing, and in the opposite sense a curse.
But a rain of hail in general signifies the curse that belongs to falsity from evil, and indeed to falsity from evil against the truths and goods of the church.
How?
God is good, God loves his people. 

The plague of boils

Exodus 9:1-12
The Lord said to Moses,"Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the Lord says:...All the livestock of the Egyptians died, nut not one animal belonging to the Israelites died." Pharaoh sent men to investigate and found that none even one of the animals of the Israelites had died.
The plague of boils: Moses tossed soot from a furnace and stood  before Pharaoh, and festering boils(癤潰爛) broke out on men and animals. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.
Why?
Disease strikes the cattle, and skin infections break out on humans and beasts, carried by the frogs and insects.
The hardness of Pharaoh's heart: God lets him be, lets him have his own way - so that in the end God's power is plain for all to see.
Moses could do it before Pharaoh and say to him what the Lord says.
Livestock died but not the people so Pharaoh did not care it.
It is severe that The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils. They were stood beside Pharaoh.
Their are different destination who belongs to the Lord and not belongs to the Lord.
How?
The life and disease are under control of God.

God give equal opportunity to repent his sins

Exodus 8:16-32
The Plague of gnats: The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen. Strike the dust of the ground, the dust will became gnats.
The plague of Flies: But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live no swarms of flies will be there so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land.
The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
This time Aaron did not stretch out his staff.
Why?
Flies speak to us of filth, disease, contamination and they are a nuisance.
A plague of flies meant bad news!
While the common house fly does not bit or sting, some like the Tsetse fly do and all flies are carriers of disease!
In the Scriptures, Satan the devil, that wicked serpent is called Beelzebub. In the Scriptures, Satan the devil, that wicked serpent is called Beelzebub.
Magicians can't produce  gnats by their secret arts, so they confessed that this is the finger of God.
All of these plagues let Egyptians know that the Lord am in this land. So as in the time near the end of day, disaster is more, let people turn to the Lord.
Stretch out the staff means God is with Aaron and Moses, but God can make it with the staff either.
How?
When people hardened his heart even the plagues and disaster happen could not let they turn to the Lord. God give equal opportunity to repent his sins.

The plague of frogs: symbolize the counterfeit gift of tongues

Exodus 8:1-15
The plague of frogs: after seven days later.
Aaron stretch out his hand with his staff over the streams ad canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as Lord had said.
Seven days later, frog, driven from the river banks by the rotting fish, seek shelter in the houses.
Why?
This is the Second plague after the blood water in Nile and rivers, ponds.
This time Pharaoh felt it is troubled him and his people.
Frogs capture their prey with their tongues, which may symbolize the counterfeit gift of tongues that is sweeping the world today. Please remember that miracles, including the gift of tongues, prove only one thing – supernatural power. And the Bible informs us that supernatural power can come from either God or Satan.  Satan, who can pose as an angel of light from heaven (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), will utilize supernatural miracles so effectively that almost the entire world will be deceived and follow him (Revelation 13:3). At the present, he is using the counterfeit gift of tongues to join together churches and religions – including pagans and spirit worshipers.
How?
Keep holding a pure heart and mind, please give me a pure heart and discerning the way of God.

The magicians may counterfeit, but they cannot countermand

Exodus 7:14-25
Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. 
Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river. Pharaoh did not take even this to heart.
The Nile, heart of the nations economy and worship - its life-blood - turns to blood: the fish cannot live in the chick, red water.
Why?
Moses and Aaron did these judgments in presence of Pharaoh, let Pharaoh know that it is the judgment of the Lord.
Pharaoh was not care his people's living. He didn't care what people drinking.
God knows everything before it is happen, but all of these are under God's sovereignty.
Nine times God acts, and Pharaoh, his magicians and all the gods of Egypt are powerless to reverse God's judgments. The magicians may counterfeit, but they cannot countermand(取消命令，反對命令).
How?
God's judgment is severe than anything in the world. No any one can countermand God's word. 

The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord

Exodus 6:28-7:13
Aaron to speak for Moses: the Lord said to Moses: "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aron will be your prophet."
I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.
Aaron's staff becomes a snake. and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
Pharaoh has heard and rejected Moses' request. He has shown the sort of man he is;" Who is the Lord...? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go'.
Now God begins a series of judgments which will teach Pharaoh and his people who the Lord is, and show them the extent of God's power over all creation.
Why?
"God will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though God multiply his miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen". Because Pharaoh's heart did not acknowledge the Lord, refused to listen to God's word. He did not afraid God. So God let Egyptians know "Who is the Lord?"
Suffering are caused by their heart and refuse to turn to the Lord.
How?
Listen to the Lord is beginning of blessing and freedom.

Then you will know that I am the Lord your God

Exodus 6:1-27
God will not make himself known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 
I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
 "Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."
God make confirmation again to Moses, his mighty hand, his promise, his Holy name.
Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.
Who are Moses and Aron? The genealogy identifies them as the descendants of Jacob through the line of his son Levi. The list is an extract from the longer one in Numbers 26.
Why?
The name YHWH is used in Genesis from 2:4, but of course it was known to those who later wrote the stories down.
God gives freedom to his people, God redeems them from slaves with mighty acts of judgment.
One who turns the Lord and be chosen by the Lord will know that He is the Lord.
Much people under discouragement and cruel bondage won't listen to the word of God. For they did not know the mighty of the Lord and his love until his has no choice.
How?
Turn to the Lord more early, then take less pain and struggling in our life. After suffering we will know that the Lord is my God.

God's way to the promised land

Exodus 5:1-23
The first requested to Pharaoh merely aggravates the situation.
The people turn against their 'deliverer'.
Moses in his frustration turns once again to God. And God renews his calling, reminding Moses of who God is and telling him what he intends to do.
The requests: This seems less than the whole truth; but it is in the nature of a test case. Israel had to leave Egypt in order to sacrifice because the nature of their sacrifice was offensive to the Egyptians. Pharaoh's reaction reveals his implacable hostility, already predicted by God.
Access to Pharaoh if Ramesses II is the pharaoh in question, he is known to have made himself available even to ordinary petitioners. Moses, brought up in the harem, knew how to attract Pharaoh's attention.
Why?
Following God's commands may have more difficult and complain from environment. God's promises are confirmed after a few hard works.
The challenge to face is out faith to the problem and the hard ways.
It is not the easy way to the promise land. But the faith and courage may lead us to the milk and fruitful promised land.
When Moses met difficult he turned to the Lord, this is our way either.
How?
Turn to the Lord when there seems no way, God has his way for me. He is the Lord, He is my way.

Be humble and courage to serve the Lord

Exodus 4:1-31
God gave a few signs to Moses, let him may express to others. People will know the Lord do have appeared to him.
Moses said he is slow of speech and tongue. The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is is not I, the Lord" Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do."
The Lord told Moses the Pharaoh will not listen to him, and God will kill their firstborn son, then they will let him go.
Before serve the Lord, Moses need circumcision, so his wife Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses's feet with it.
The people won't believe me, God gives Moses three sings with which to convince them that he really has met with God. This is the kind of magic they are familiar with: the kind that went with the religion of Egypt.
'I am no speaker', 'But God who made him will enable Moses to speak.
'Please send someone else',. This God will not do, but Moses is allowed his brother Aaron as spokesman.
Why?
Moses had not any faith to do this mission - bring Israelite out from Egypt, so he wanted many miracle signs and he said he is slow to speak.
God will help his servant to speak and to do the miracle things. Do not afraid. God like our humble before him.
How?
Be humble and be courage to serve the Lord, I am not along, God always be with me.

I AM WHO I AM

Exodus 3:1-22
The Lord called Moses, he said,"Here I am"
God said to Moses, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."
The Lord have see the misery of his people. He come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
God said, "I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you."
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."
God knows that the king of Egypt will not let them go unless a mighty hand compels him. So God will stretch out his hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that God will perform among them. After that, he will let them go. And Moses and Israelite will not go empty-hand.
Moses is actually at Sinai the very place where he will later receive the law, when God calls to him.
Born a Hebrew, brought up an Egyptian, Moses is facing his own crisis of identity, made worse by his people's rejection.
As he wanders the desert, he is halted by the sight of a blazing bush. Is it real? Is it a vision? He turns aside - and God meets him with an astounding commission: 'Be my messenger to Pharaoh: lead my people to freedom.' But the emissary is most reluctant. He raises one objection after another, ad each is countered by God.
Why?
Who am I? This is Moses' dilemma(困境). It goes deeper than 'I am not up to the job.'(我不勝任工作)  And God's response is not 'you are uniquely qualified' - not 'you are' anything - but 'I am'. What gives us identity, what give Moses authority, is God's identity, his presence, 'I will be with you.'
How am I to explain to people who you are? Moses cannot go back simply with a subjective experience. God describes himself more clearly; 'I am' is the living God, from whom all existence derives. And God connects himself to what the people already know; he is no stranger to his people. He is the God of Abraham and the rest, whose stories they know.
The LORD: The capital letters used in most English Bibles indicate the 'personal name' of God in Hebrew 'YHWH', probably pronounced 'Yahweh', traditionally read as 'Jehovah'.
Here I am is my response to the Lord.
God's identity is 'I will be with you.'
How?
Pray in Jesus name and obey God's commands, then God will be with us.

I have become a foreigner in a foreign land

Exodux 2:1-23
Moses,saying, “I drew him out of the water."
When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.
Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.  Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom,saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.
Why?
Moses wanted to make righteousness by his strength. It is not the right way to make it.
Moses became foreigner in a foreign land, God used the wildness to transfer Moses to his servent. Get rid of his flesh strength, subdued to the Lord.
All of the Jesus followers are foreigners of this land.
How?
This land is not my home, my home is on the heaven.