In our passage this week, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, showing us that He want's to have a relationship with His people. These commandments point to a glorious God. They offer a far-reaching promise which is a privilege to obey. But in the end, the law is a test that we will all fail, but by the grace of Jesus Christ.

God reminds His people that He is saving them for a close, personal, intimate relationship for Himself. He reminds them of his saving action in the past, His present saving command and His promise of salvation in the future. From this passage, we see that God has brought us into a relationship where we rightly, truly fear Him.

When the Israelites cross the red sea to enter the wilderness, the LORD tests them out of love in order to strengthen their faith. But they respond by bitterly testing Him in return. Their grumbling shows a problem of perception, of expectation, of a lack of faith and of failing to obey Him. Yet God responds with love, showing that he dearly desires that they trust Him.

Who is the God of the Old Testament and how can we reconcile this God with the 'meek and mild' Jesus of the New Testament? In this passage, we discover that the God of the Old Testament is not a vindictive bully, He is supremely Just. Furthermore, the God of the Old Testament is not cruel, but patient, merciful and lovingly self-sacrificial.

The I AM God leads the Israelites out of Egypt in order to glorify his name. He gets glory in the defeat of the great enemy and He gets glory through the saving of his people.

Realise the power and might of the I AM God of Exodus. Remember His judgement on His enemies. Rejoice in our rescue and salvation.

The great I AM displays his sovereign, creation power through a series of exchanges with Pharaoh.  We learn to fear this powerful God, but by taking refuge in Him there is safety.

In the last passage, God revealed himself by name: I AM. Here, he reveals more of his character: he is a powerful Father God who promises to redeem his people at great cost. Do we really know this great I AM?

In this passage, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob reveals Himself to Moses by name. From this name, we learn that:

At the start of Exodus, things are vastly different for the Israelites than at the end of Genesis. We ask ourselves 'where is the God of the promise' many times throughout the cosmic 'boxing-match' with Pharaoh in chapters 1 and 2. We find that in the midst of suffering, God works through the darkest times to bring his promises to fulfillment.