Before taking his family on a perilous journey to E'gypt, Mo'ses asked the consent of his father-in-law. Without meaning actually to deceive Je'thro, Mo'ses thought it best to tell him nothing about the vision which he had, or the Divine appointment to become the leader of his people in casting off their bondage in E'gypt. Even though he did not think it wise to share his wonderful secret with Je'thro, Mo'ses was truly grateful to his father-in-law for taking him into his home when he was a wanderer, for hiring him to look after his sheep for forty years, and for giving him one of his daughters in marriage. Je'thro took the news of the departure in good spirit, and said to Mo'ses, "Go in peace." He was very fond of his son-in-law, and knew that he would not go away unless he had some very good reason.
Mo'ses took his wife and sons, and started out in the wilderness for the long journey back to the home of his kindred. In the course of the journey God reminded Mo'ses that he had neglected an important duty while he was living in Mid'i-an. For some reason he had failed to have one of his sons circumcised as required of the chosen people of God. When this neglect was called to his mind by the LORD, and the rite duly performed, Mo'ses sent the boy and his mother back to the home of Je'thro. The LORD directed Aa'ron to go into the wilderness to meet his brother Mo'ses, and the two brothers journeyed on into E'gypt to perform the great work to which they had been called.
The elders of Is'ra-el were then called together, and Mo'ses told them of the call which he had received from God. They accepted him as their leader, and news of his mission spread rapidly among the Is'ra-el-ites. At first there was great rejoicing among the people, and they treated Mo'ses and Aa'ron with deep respect and affection. Then Mo'ses and Aa'ron went directly to Pha'raoh, the king of E'gypt, told him that they were messengers sent by the LORD, and asked that all the He'brew people be allowed to make a three days' journey into the wilderness outside the borders of E'gypt so that they might worship their God in a special feast.
This reasonable request was bluntly refused by Pha'raoh. The proud king of E'gypt said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Is'ra-el go." He had no respect for the God of Is'ra-el, and no mercy toward the people who worshiped Him; his answer shows that he did not believe that God could help the people of Is'ra-el. Thus the servants of God were scorned and insulted, and the wicked king of E'gypt sought to make himself a god superior to the God of Is'ra-el.
Hardened in heart, darkened in mind, and filled with a cruel, selfish spirit, Pha'raoh mocked the suggestion that his great host of slaves should be permitted to leave their work long enough to worship their God. At once he ordered his officers and taskmasters to increase the burdens of the children of Is'ra-el, and to make their work more difficult to do.
At this particular time the He'brew slaves were employed in making brick for the great temples being erected in E'gypt. In the process of molding bricks out of clay they used straw, which was cut in fine strands to hold the bricks together. Up to this time the straw had been gathered by other workmen, but Pha'raoh now ordered that the He'brews go out into the fields and gather their own straw, and that they must make just as many bricks as they had been making before. This increase in their burdens filled the He'brews with despair, and in their disappointment and anger they turnt against Mo'ses and Aa'ron, blaming them for the new hardships inflicted by the E'gyp-tians.
