The first aliyah continues the conversation between Moshe and G-d after the Jews were denied the straw and Moshe said to G-d: "Why did You deal ill with Your people?" G-d responds by reviewing the history of His relationship with the patriarchs.
G-d says the patriarchs didn't know G-d's name of Havayah. (The previous use of the name "Elokim" was G-d's name in the language of gevurah [judgment] and limitation -- e.g. creation of a world that looks natural happens with the name "Elokim". The Divine name of Havayah is the language of chesed [kindness] and limitless. As we read last week, the Jewish women were giving birth to seemingly limitless children and the population was increasing in an unlimited way and the world was about to see wonders and miracles as they had never seen before.)
G-d reviews His covenant that He made with each of the patriarchs to give them the land of Canaan. G-d adds that He is aware of the Jewish people's suffering.
Moshe then tells all this to the people, but they are upset with their increased burden and don't listen.
G-d says "Go tell Pharaoh that he should send away the Jews". Moshe responds: "The Jews don't listen to me, how is Pharaoh going to hear me?" G-d adds Aharon, Moshe's brother, with Moshe as a spokesman and a mediator and gave them a charge to bring the Jews out of Egypt.
