Study Desk

Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, "I lifted him out of the water."

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father's flocks.

But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.

"An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds," they answered. "And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks."

Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."

Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.

"Do not come any closer," the Lord warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.

Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt."

God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth."

Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.

Before Moses left Midian, the Lord said to him, "Return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you have died."

On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him.

"Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!

So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: "This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.

As they left Pharaoh's court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.

The foremen said to them, "May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!"

But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn't drink the water from the Nile.

"You set the time!" Moses replied. "Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River."