1. Moses
A Very Important Prophet

2. Highly Honoured in Jewish Tradition
Moses is THE:
LEADER
FOUNDING FATHER
PROPHET
LAWGIVER
“Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses.” Dt

3. A bit of history: Born in Egypt Parents from tribe of Levi
Saved from decree of Pharaoh ordering killing of all boys
Moses,
“because I drew him out of water.”
“is born” in Egyptian

4. More of the story Two siblings: Aaron, and Miriam
Raised by Pharaoh’s daughter,
Wet-nursed by his own mother
Identified with his Hebrew ancestry (how would he know?)
Killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave
Had to flee

5. In Midian Helps women water their herd Welcomed by Jethro
Marries Zipporah
two children: Gershom & Eliezer
Read together “The Revelation of the Name of God: the Call of Moses” page 66 (Exodus )

6. The Name of God Moses received a new name for God “I am who am.”
“I am who is.”
“I am who I shall be.”
“I shall be who I am.”
“I am.”

7. Another take on God’s name
A promise:
“I will show you who I am in my being with you,” Or
“I will be with you tomorrow as I have been up to now.”

8. YHWH (the Tetragrammaton) Greek for “word with four letters”
God’s holy name
In worship, replaced by “Adonai” or “my Lord”
Pronounced in temple worship only once a year by the High Priest

9. Tennessee Williams
“For we are all little children, playing with alphabet blocks and trying endlessly to spell out the ineffable Name.”

10. Moses’ Mission God calls Moses to be a prophet
An intermediary between God and the people
Prophets are messengers of God
i.e., they speak on God’s behalf
Read Ex
Moses serves as the mouth of God to Aaron and to the people
Bring them to mountain of the Lord

11. Exodus chapter 5-12
Moses and Aaron try to convince Pharaoh to let the people go
Passover meal  leaving land of oppression
Eventually escape  mountain of the Lord

12. Israel at Mount Sinai & the Decalogue
Exodus 19 (Read text p 68-69)
Exodus 20 (pages 69)
Compare the Ten Commandments p. 70

13. The Traits of Covenants
Covenants were treaties between a sovereign nation and a vassal nation. (e.g. Hittites)
Preamble (name, titles, attributes of Great Hittite King…)
Historical prologue (historical overview describing previous relations; benefits bestowed; an essential component: times of aid & support)
The Submission (what the sovereign expects, i.e., conditions: loyalty, payment of taxes…)
The Witnesses (legal documents need witnesses)
The blessings and curses (what happens if faithful, or unfaithful)