"In that moment, as I gazed upon the elders' faces, a flicker of hope and trust lit within their eyes. The signs and miracles had done their work, solidifying their faith and igniting the flame of liberation in their hearts. Now, with the whole of Israel at my back, I could challenge the pharaoh."
Moses cleared his throat and sighed, turning to everyone in turn and smiling, before saying, "I'm sorry, friends... I'm an old man now, and I'm afraid life has taken its toll on me.
I'm tired, and my throat is sore… would you mind giving me a few minutes to rest my voice, and I'll continue the story of Yahweh against the Tyranny of the Pharaoh."
Aaron stepped up, clearing his throat and saying, "I've been silent for a while, besides I was there with you every step of the way. I'll take over for now."
He sat cross-legged and picked up where Moses had left off.
"And that was the night that after 40 years… Moses returned to Israel. I was one of the elders that were gathered, alongside Ezrae, Miriam, and all of the others.
Not that I needed a reminder of Yahweh's blessings, but it was good to see the return of my brother, and feel the promise of freedom. I was truly blessed to have witnessed the extraordinary events that unfolded during this time, between us and Rameses.
The next morning we approached the Pharaoh's magnificent palace, which gave off an eerie aura… With conviction in our voices, we declared to King Rameses the II, son of Seti I:
"This is what the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.'"
But Pharaoh, enveloped in his arrogance, scoffed at our words. "Who is this 'Lord Yahweh, that the lord of Egypt, King Rameses the Great, should obey him and 'let Israel go?'
I do not know your Lord, and I will NOT let Israel go, I answer to no one, but MY god, Ra." he retorted, dismissing the divine command of the God of the Israelites.
Undeterred by Pharaoh's defiance, and honestly, seeing him as nothing more than a petulant child, we pressed on. Moses, ever the soft-hearted, warned him of the consequences that awaited, if their request was denied.
"The God of the Israelites has met with us personally, Pharaoh. Now, let us Israelites take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so we may offer sacrifices to the Lord Yahweh, our God; or else he will strike at the heart of Egypt with plagues, and with the sword," he proclaimed, hoping to instill fear, and reason, into the Pharaoh's heart.
Rameses, however, refused to yield. He accused us of disrupting the labor of the Israelites, who were now flourishing in number. He claimed their strength came from numbers and they owed Egypt for their protection.
In an act of malicious defiance against the Lord, Pharaoh commanded his slave-drivers and overseers to withhold straw from the Israelites, making their already arduous work even more grueling…
"The Israelites are simply lazy," he declared, "that is why they cry out for freedom, and wish to make sacrifices to their God. Make their work harder, push them to their edge, and let them pay no heed to such lies of freedom and insolence against their King."
And so, the slave-drivers and overseers compelled the Israelites to gather their own straw, while still maintaining the same brick production as before. The people scattered throughout Egypt, searching for any remnants of vegetative stubble which could serve as a substitute for straw.
They toiled relentlessly, their spirits crushed under the weight of Pharaoh's cruelty, and resentment began to build in them. The Israelite overseers, witnessing the suffering of their brethren, bravely confronted the Pharaoh.
"Why have you treated your servants this way?" they pleaded. "We are given no straw, yet we are ordered to make bricks. Your own people are at fault, not us."
But Rameses, fueled by anger, defiance, and obstinacy, deemed them lazy and heartless. "Get back to work!" he thundered.
"No straw will be provided, yet you must meet your quota of bricks. Do what is expected of you, or face severe consequences."
The overseers, realizing the gravity of the situation, departed from the Pharaoh's presence. As they wandered, burdened by their desperation, they encountered us, who had heard what happened, and awaited them with heavy hearts.
Filled with anguish and frustration, the overseers lamented, "May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us repulsive in the eyes of the Pharaoh and his officials, giving them cause to take up the sword against us. You are betraying your brethren! Moses, Aaron, please… you must stop this foolishness, else we will all surely be put to death."
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of their predicament, Moses sought solace from the Lord. He sought isolation, in order to meditate and pray to the divine presence of Yahweh; questioning the purpose behind these unfolding troubles.
"Why, Lord?" Moses pleaded. "Why have you brought trouble upon these people? Is this why you sent me? Am I not a man of deliverance, but one of punishment?
Rameses has only increased the suffering of the Israelites, and you have not yet rescued your people, as you promised me."
And so, the fate of the Israelites hung in the balance, and Moses' plea reverberated through the heavens…. Our struggle for liberation had only just begun, and we, the chosen people of God, the populous of Israel, awaited our deliverance with both trepidation and hope…