Moses Returns to Egypt

Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and asked to return to his own people in Egypt to see whether they were still alive. Jethro sent him in peace. Then Yahweh told Moses in Midian to go, because the men who had wanted to kill him were dead.

So Moses took his wife and his sons and headed for Egypt. He carried God’s rod in his hand. On the way, Yahweh told Moses that when he came before Pharaoh, he must do the wonders God had placed in his hand. Yet Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened, and he would not let the people go.

Yahweh also gave Moses a message for Pharaoh to hear. Israel was called God’s son, his firstborn, and Pharaoh was to let God’s son go so that Israel might serve him. If Pharaoh refused, a severe judgement was announced against Pharaoh’s firstborn son.

During the journey, when they stopped at a lodging place, Yahweh met Moses and wanted to kill him. Then Zipporah took a flint and circumcised her son. After that, Moses was spared. Zipporah spoke with distress about blood because of the circumcision.

Meanwhile, Yahweh told Aaron to go into the wilderness to meet Moses. Aaron met him at God’s mountain and kissed him. Moses told Aaron all Yahweh’s words and all the signs he had been given. Then they gathered Israel’s elders. Aaron spoke the message and did the signs before the people, and the people believed. When they heard that Yahweh had visited them and seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshipped.