Well as you can imagine Moses’ first foray to Pharoah is not a success. Not only does Pharoah say NO, the Israelites may not go, he also cuts the straw they were given to make bricks, while still requiring them to make the same amount. When they cannot do so, they are whipped and told they now will not have as much time to listen to ratbags like Moses. So for the first in many such occasions, the Israelites get angry with Moses.

Moses naturally gets a bit of doubt about this – did I really talk to God? Maybe I really am hallucinating…?

So God says – you are the ONLY one I have revealed my holy name to. Tell the people I will not only make Pharoah let them go, he will PAY you to go.

Still the people did not believe. The bible reports their spirit had been broken by cruel slavery.

Please God never let us be broken so that we are afraid to listen to you, In Jesus name, Amen.

And as to yesterday’s mystery about why God tried to kill Moses on the way from Midian to Egypt – I think it was because Moses’ son was uncircumcised. Fortunately his intelligent wife, the daughter of a priest, realised it and fixed matters up quickly.

The other mystery is why is God so eager to impress Pharoah? IN Exodus 7:5, He says “They will know I am the Lord.” And then He allows Pharoah’s magicians to do the same impressive feats as He gives Moses.

Pharoah is so arrogant that when he says no to letting the Israelites go, and Moses turns the NIle into blood, he turns his back and ignores it. I snuck a peek and it is actually MOSES who has to return to him, even though the Egyptian commoners must dig in muddy pools to try to find water to drink.