The story of the Exodus from Egypt is of fundamental importance, both in the Old Testament and beyond. However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for many readers, especially concerning the actions of God. Why does God send a series of devastating plagues on Egypt? How do we understand the hardening of Pharaoh's heart? What do the answers to these questions say about the character of God? This study addresses these questions, taking into account the complex interaction of the presuppositions of faith and responsible textual interpretation. The approach is narrativeÐtheological and canonical--reading the story in its current form as a story, and concentrating on the various passages within the story that appear to present rationales for God's actions (especially Exodus 9:13Ð19 and 10:1Ð2). By reading these explanations in their context within the story, and paying attention to such factors as speaker, addressee, purpose, and reception, a picture is built up of the different and developing relationships between God, Pharaoh, and Moses. This complex interaction provides a way to read and understand the wider plagues story, including the plagues and hardening of the heart within it. The study concludes by considering another story with a similarly difficult portrayal of God's actions--the story of the capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4Ð7, where a similar pattern can be observed. The picture that emerges is challenging rather than comfortable--a God who is responsive, speaking and acting to confront others to make the appropriate response to him.

Presents a family guide to the Bible that, told through historic art and artifacts, tells the stories of biblical characters and highlights their greater meaning for mankind.

Volume 3 covers Genesis chapter 41 to the end and the first 11 chapters of the book of Exodus. Twenty stories pick up the thread of Joseph in Egypt, describe Pharaoh's palace, and depict the plight of the Hebrew people as Egyptian slaves. God sends ten plagues as Moses begs for their release.

This book provides a comprehensive reference guide to negotiation and mediation. Negotiation skills can be learned--everything from managing fairness and power and understanding the other side and cultural differences to decision-making, creativity, and apology. Good negotiation is best approached from a multidisciplinary perspective that combines the best of theory and practice.

In his insightful book, Damazio lays out for the serious student a broad discussion of what it means to be responsible for a group of "followers.

This joyous book came out of my love for teaching. It is the product of teaching and lecturing in schools, universities, and prestigious conferences. The trial of the Egyptian Pharaoh was a case of human rights violations. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, his officials, and the Egyptian people forced the Israel people into slavery and treated them with extreme cruelty. They forced the Israelites to do hard labor and they mercilessly oppressed them and heavily exploited them. The Israelites cried to God and God agreed with them. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and sent him to Pharaoh to tell him to let the Israelites leave Egypt, the land of slavery, and go to Canaan, the promised land flowing with milk and honey. God gave Moses two miraculous signs and wonders to perform before Pharaoh and his officials. God hoped that the two miraculous signs will convince Pharaoh and he will let the Israelite leave Egypt and go to Canaan. In his famous call to Pharaoh, God ordered, "Let my people go." Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh in Egypt and told him everything that God wanted him to do. Let the people go. But the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, refused to let the Israelites go out of Egypt. He refused to let God's people go out of Egypt, the land of slavery. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, adamantly asked Moses, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go." Then Moses left Pharaoh alone but God sent him back again. Moses and Aaron threw Moses's staff on the ground in front of Pharaoh and his official. Then Moses's staff turned into a great snake. Pharaoh watched the great snake crawl in front of him. Then Pharaoh summoned his wise men, and his sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians, and ordered them to do what Moses and Aaron did in front of him and his officials. The wise men, the sorcerers, and the great magicians of Egypt threw their staffs in front of Pharaoh and his official, but their staffs turned into small snakes and Moses's great snake swallowed them all. However, those miraculous signs and wonders did not deter or stop Pharaoh from his stubbornness. He refused to let God's people go out of Egypt and God decided to take this case to a higher level. The case of the Israel people, as plaintiffs, vs. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, as the defendant, was indeed a unique case. There has been no case before and since then where God himself presided over the case like he did before Pharaoh and his officials, God was the judge in this case. And God chose Moses and Aaron to prosecute Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his officials for violating the Israel people's human rights when they forced them into slavery and treated them with extreme cruelty. Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go out of Egypt. He disobeyed God's order to "let my people go." God performed a lot of miracles and wonders throughout this unique case. But Pharaoh refused to obey those miraculous signs and wonders. Then God decided to inflict Pharaoh, his officials, and the Egyptian people with deadly plagues. God sent ten deadly plagues that devastated the whole land of Egypt. God sent (1) the plague of blood, (2) the plague of frogs, (3) the plague of gnats, (4) the plague of flies, (5) the plague on livestock, (6) the plague of boils, (7) the plague of hail, (8) the plague of locusts, (9) the plague of darkness, and (10) the plague on the firstborn. The plague on the firstborn was the last straw for Pharaoh, king of Egypt. There was great crying, wailing, yelling, and mourning in the whole land of Egypt. God sent the angel of death to Egypt and killed all firstborn sons of the Egyptian people, including Pharaoh's firstborn son. Finally, Pharaoh woke and hurriedly summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds as you have said and go. And also bless me." So, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. God opened up and divided the Red Sea and the Israelites walked and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. God was with the Israelites all the way to Canaan, the promised land. He fed them on manna and honey. He gave them the Ten Commandments and he led them across Jordan River into Canaan, the promised land. God helped the Israelites conquer the land of Canaan. Joshua divided the Land of Canaan among the nine and a half tribes of Israel, as commanded by the Lord. The land east of the Jordan River had already been assigned to two and a half tribes of Israel by Moses as commanded by the Lord. The whole land is commonly known as "the land of the twelve tribes of Israel."