I Am the LORD Your God Who First Offered the Torah to All Nations

"I am the LORD your God" (Exodus 20:2): I am the one; let whoever has authority come and protest. Rabbi Shimon says: regarding the destruction of the world it is said, "And I will blot out every living thing" (Genesis 7:4) - I am the one; let whoever has authority come and protest. Likewise you say, "Not in secret have I spoken, in a place of a land of darkness; I, the one who speaks righteousness" (Isaiah 45:19) - I am the one; let whoever has authority come and protest. Another interpretation: "I am the LORD your God" - I am God over all who come into the world. You might think you are like them; therefore Scripture teaches, "your God." You might think I am God over you alone; therefore Scripture teaches, "I am the LORD" - I am God over all who come into the world. How then? I am God over all who come into the world, yet My name rests especially upon you. Likewise you say, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel" (Jeremiah 32:14) - and "Behold I am the God of all flesh" (Jeremiah 32:27). Another interpretation: "I am the LORD your God" - what does "your God" teach? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: if you do My will, behold I am the LORD, and it is said of Me, "the LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious" (Exodus 34:6); but if not, "your God" - I exact punishment from those who hate you, for "your God" teaches nothing but the language of a judge. Another interpretation: "I am the LORD your God" teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought His Torah around to all the nations of the world and they would not accept it from Him; He returned to Israel and said, "I am the LORD your God." "Who brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 20:2): even if I had nothing over you except that I brought you out of the land of Egypt, it is enough. "From the house of slaves" (Exodus 20:2): even if I had nothing over you except that I redeemed you from the house of slaves, it is enough.